Mandaue policeman accused of extortion
A Mandaue policeman was relieved from his post after he was accused of demanding cash in exchange for the release of two women who were detained for possession of a fake P1,000 bill.
SPO1 Herbert Pelayo was relieved as desk officer of the Subangdaku Police Station and was transferred to the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) pending investigation against him.
Insp. Mark Edward Barrios, chief of the Subangdaku police, was also ordered relieved by Senior Supt. Supt. Noel Gillamac, Mandaue police director, for command responsibility.
Pelayo was accused of extortion by Candy Mendez and Clarita Reyes, workers of a forwarding company.
The two women said that last Tuesday afternoon, they boarded a taxi from Lapu-Lapu City and asked to be brought to Subangdaku.
The two women said that when they reached their destination, they gave P1,000 to the driver but he didn’t have change.
They went to a lotto outlet in barangay and had the bill changed.
As they were about to leave, the lotto attendant called the two women and told them that the P1,000 bill was fake.
The two women and the lotto attendant were arguing when two policemen arrived.
The two women were brought to the Subangdaku police station where they were detained for two hours.
The two women alleged that Pelayo facilitated an amicable settlement between them and the lotto operator.
The two women said the lotto operator agreed that they will just replace the P1,000 bill but Pelayo demanded that they give him P3,000 each for their release.
Reyes was released when her daughter went to the station and brought P3,000.
Mendez alleged that Pelayo demanded for her cell phone since she didn’t have enough money.
Mendez said she didn’t want to lose her cell phone and just offered her digital camera to the policeman.
The two women said the policeman asked them to sign in the police blotter that the issue was amicably settled.
The following day, the two women went to a television network and aired their complaint./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA
