Police station chief, 4 cop execs nabbed for extortion, robbery in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur –– A police commander here was arrested, along with four other officers, for alleged robbery and extortion after an entrapment operation Monday.

Brigadier General Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, director of the Police Regional Office 9, identified the officer as Major Orlyn Leyte, officer-in-charge of Police Station 9 in Barangay Ayala.

Leyte was nabbed after receiving P90,000 to settle a supposed drug-related case.

Leyte’s victim was the subject of an earlier drug buy-bust operation during which her jewelry and cash representing the weeklong income from her store were lost.

Leyte was on duty and wearing a police uniform when his colleagues collared him at his station.

Ylagan said cases of robbery, extortion, and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard for Public Officials and Employees are being prepared against Leyte and four others.

The four officers are Staff Sergeants Hegenio Salvador and Asser Abdulkadim and Corporals Ismael Sasapan and Juman Arabani.

They are now under custody at the Zamboanga City Police Office, Ylagan said.

Earlier, Ylagan said he would not tolerate erring police officers and enlisted personnel.

LZB