4 cops charged for illegally detaining, robbing, extorting from trader

MANILA, Philippines — Four policemen were charged with robbery extortion in the Manila Regional Trial Court on Wednesday for allegedly demanding P250,000 for the release of a businessman, his girlfriend and his sister who were detained without a warrant about two years ago.

Police Officer 2 Luisito Gutierrez, PO1 Anthony Fernandez and PO1 Paulo Levin Angelo Nerviza of the Sta. Mesa police station, and PO1 Wilfredo Cinco assigned at the National Capital Region Police Office personnel holding and accounting unit were charged based on the complaint of businessman Niel Hayuhay.

Hayuhay said that on Aug. 24, 2012, around 4 p.m., he and his girlfriend Divine Lapuz had just arrived on a motorcycle at his house in Bambang, Pasig City, when a black Honda Civic and white Mitsubishi Adventure blocked their path.

The men who came out of the vehicles introduced themselves as police officers. The policeman identified as Fernandez handcuffed Hayuhay and put the two inside the car.

One of the men opened the compartment of Hayuhay’s motorcycle, took the keys and entered his house together with Gutierrez and Nerviza.

Hayuhay’s sister Lea, who was inside the house, was also handcuffed. The men took her necklace and wallet containing P6,000 before ransacking the house.

Inside the car, a man told Lea, “Hoy tomboy, wala kaming nakuha sa iyong pera ah (We didn’t take money from you).”

The three were brought to the Sta. Mesa police station where they were asked to pay P200,000 in exchange for their release. The policemen allegedly threatened to file an illegal drugs case if they failed to give the money.

Cinco arrived at the station supposedly to help negotiate with the policemen but he informed Hayuhay that the policemen had been asking for P250,000.

Hayuhay’s nephew was able to give P15,000 to Gutierrez at 4 a.m. of Aug. 26, then P60,000 more around noon.

Lea was allowed to go so she could procure money for the balance. She sought the help of her sister who called a dentist whose brother was then Manila Police District director, Chief Supt. Alejandro Gutierrez.

The police director called the station commander and Hayuhay was released.

The complainants later found out that laptop computers, digital cameras, cell phones and wristwatches, among other valuables, were missing in their house.

In a counteraffidavit, the policemen denied the accusations, saying they were in Pasig on Aug. 24, 2012, to arrest an alias Gladic Uy Zamora.

They claimed that the complaint was ill motivated since Lea had an outstanding warrant of arrest for an illegal drugs case.

Assistant City Prosecutor Alfred Gomez, in a resolution, said Lea’s criminal record was immaterial to the extortion case and did not absolve the policemen of a criminal charge for harassing her.

“The clear and positive testimony of the complainants as well as collaborating testimony of credible witnesses is given more weight than the mere alibi of the respondents,” the resolution said.

Bail was set at P100,000 each.

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