Couple accuse 4 QC cops of extortion

A call center agent has accused four policemen of arresting him on trumped-up drug charges, roughing him up while he was in detention and then demanding money in exchange for his freedom.

The man’s allegations were backed up by his live-in partner who said she was forced to give P15,000 to the policemen who told her in no uncertain terms that should she fail to come up with the money, they would charge the victim in court for drug possession.

The couple who did not identify themselves for their own safety went on a radio program on Wednesday to air their allegations against four members of the Fairview police station who, according to them, was aided by an informant.

Their accusations prompted Quezon City Police District director Senior Supt. Richard Albano to order an investigation to determine if administrative and criminal cases should be filed against the policemen whose identities were still under verification.

According to the affidavit of the 31-year-old victim, he was seated in a tricycle and smoking a cigarette at 10 a.m. on Monday on Buick Street in Barangay South Fairview when five men in civilian clothes alighted from a black Mitsubishi Montero.

No explanation

Without any explanation, they took him into custody, placed him in handcuffs and then forced him to get into their sport utility vehicle, he said.

He added that he was taken to the police station by the five men who later on summoned his live-in partner.

The 19-year-old woman said that when she got there, she was told by the policemen that she had until 2 p.m. to raise P20,000 in exchange for her partner’s release.

Should she fail to do so, he would undergo inquest proceedings for drug possession, the policeman warned her, she added.

The woman said she came up with only P15,000 and her partner was released at 2:30 p.m.

The man also claimed that during the time he was inside the policemen’s SUV and detained at the police station, he was repeatedly punched by his captors.