6 Taguig watchmen foiled as ‘kotong cops’

Six village watchmen in Bicutan, Taguig City, were arrested on Saturday for posing as policemen and extorting money from a trucking crew member.

The Philippine National Police Counter-Intelligence Task Force (PNP-CITF) rescued the truck helper who was earlier “arrested” by the bogus policemen for a drug-related offense.

The six tanod allegedly demanded P6,000 from the helper’s common-law wife in exchange for his release.

They were identified as Regie Adrales, Rolly Barcelo, Bobby Tejero, Antonio Bontia, Antonio Bag-ao, and Stephanie Villanueva.

The police seized three pistols from the group.

The helper’s wife earlier reported to the PNP-CITF that one of the suspects called her up to demand payment.

The watchmen were arrested when they showed up to get the money at Sto. Niño Hospital also in Taguig. —Jeannette I. Andrade