5 cops nabbed for extorting P200K from ‘loteng’ collector

Five members of the Southern Police District (SPD) were arrested for allegedly extorting P200,000 in exchange for downgrading the case against an alleged collector of an illegal numbers game.

Placed under restrictive custody at the SPD headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, following their arrest on Wednesday, were Police Officer (PO) 3 Simon Respicio, PO2 Jimmy Abadines, PO1 Randy Mangubat, PO1 Kervilyn Dugwaye, and PO1 Moli Esmael of the SPD Special Operations Unit (DSOU).

Their service firearms and cellphones were confiscated as well, as cases of robbery extortion and violation of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard for Public Employees will be filed against them this Thursday.

According to SPD spokesperson Supt. Jenny Tecson, the five DSOU personnel initially arrested Roselyn Genorga, 55, at 9 p.m. on Tuesday in Merville, Pasay City after she was caught in the act of collecting “loteng” money from unidentified male bettors.

Recovered from Genorga was bet money amounting to P153 and a booklet containing bet collections.

Tecson said the arresting policemen brought Genorga to the DSOU office at SPD.

However, the policemen allegedly demanded P200,000 from Genorga’s family in exchange for reducing the case against the “loteng” collector from supposedly violating Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, to a lesser crime of violating the illegal numbers game law or RA 9287.

The daughter of Genorga admitted the deal was closed to P50,000 but she was only able to give them P25,000 as initial payment.

Consequently, SPD Director Chief Supt. Tomas Apolinario Jr. ordered the suspension of all the 17 personnel of DSOU.            /kga