2 cops convicted of extorting money from bus operator

MANILA, Philippines—Two policemen formerly assigned to the Quezon City Police District have been convicted by a Quezon City court of direct bribery for extorting P20,000 from an executive of a bus company in 1995.

Assisting Judge Genie Gapas-Agbada of Regional Trial Court Branch 221 ordered the imprisonment of the now retired Senior Police Officer 2 Ruben Samaco and chief Inspector Marcelo Chavez, who was SPO1 at the time of the crime, for six months to two years and 11 months. They were also fined P40,000 each.

“The court rules that the prosecution was able to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt,” the nine-page decision promulgated on Wednesday read.

The charge of direct bribery was based on a complaint of businesswoman Felina Dasig, manager of the Suyat Dasig Bus Transport.

Dasig alleged that the two policemen, then assigned to the Novaliches police station, demanded P20,000 from her for the release of her personal driver who had been apprehended for a traffic violation and alleged illegal possession of firearms.

The driver, at the time of his arrest, was on an errand to fetch the company’s technicians.

Court records showed that Dasig wrote a check for P20,000 which was later encashed by Samaco on August 4, 1995 at the Citytrust Bank.

That same morning, the driver, Victor Alba as well as Dasig’s car were released.

In their defense, the two accused denied ever asking money from the businesswoman. The police officers claimed that they told Dasig that the case had been turned over to the desk officer on duty.

The court ruled, however,  that all elements of direct bribery were proven in the case, pointing out that the policemen did not deny receiving the P20,000 from Dasig.

“Both accused did not deny that they accepted P20,000 from the private complainant… which SPO2 Samaco himself encashed, as evidenced by his  signature at the back of the check,” the decision read.

The policemen had claimed in their counter-affidavit that the money was Dasig’s way of expressing her gratitude for the police officers’ help in releasing her employee and her car.

“Notably, both accused did not deny that Dasig’s employee was released from police custody without being investigated or charged with any offense, despite the fact that they were apprehended for a very serious offense of illegal possession of firearms,” the court said.