LUCENA CITY – An alleged extortionist posing as an official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group was arrested by village officials in Calaca town in Batangas province on Saturday, July 23, police said Sunday.
Police Colonel Glicerio Cansilao, Batangas police chief, in a report said village officials in Barangay Salong conducted a citizen’s arrest and collared Zoren Guerrero, 20, around 6 p.m.
The police report said Guerrero, who introduced himself as “Lieutenant Ramos” from the PNP Maritime Group assigned in the National Capital Region, allegedly tried to extort money from fisherman Garry De Gala, who also happened to be a barangay councilor.
When asked for his police identification card, the suspect failed to produce it, which prompted De Gala to call for assistance from other village officials who collared the bogus cop.
Prior to the incident, the barangay officials have already been alerted by the Philippine Coast Guard in Batangas that a pseudo police officer has been making rounds of coastal villages demanding money from fishers.
The suspect is now detained and will be charged with usurpation of authority and extortion.
READ: Eleazar warns cops vs extortion racket