Cop posing as NPA nabbed for extortion

Arrest (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

NAGA CITY — A policeman who posed as a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was arrested Monday night while claiming money that he allegedly extorted from a construction firm at a Smart Padala outlet, police said Tuesday.

Senior Police Officer 2 Tomas Bongon, police spokesperson, said Police Officer 2 Gilbert Embestro, 40, was caught through an entrapment operation by combined personnel from the police and the Philippine Army in a Smart Padala outlet in this city while claiming the money, which was sent by Rustan Oliva, 37, foreman of the China Geo Construction Corp.

Bongon said Oliva reported the extortion try of Embestro that resulted in the entrapment operation and the arrest of the cop.

He said the police recovered from Embestro three cell phones, a .45 and 9mm guns and the claim stub of the outlet. One of cellphones contained messages on the transaction with Oliva.

Bongon said several other complainants identified Embestro as the same person who extorted from them.

The arrested cop is now detained at the police station in Naga City while criminal case has been submitted for his inquest at the prosecutor’s office, according to Bongon.  SFM