Extortion raps filed vs. 3 rogue cops preying on junk shops

The case was filed at the DOJ Wednesday, where Sarapdon, Antimaro, Florano and Baldon were subjected to inquest proceedings following their arrest. (PNA photo)

MANILA — The three policemen and their cohort, who were arrested for allegedly extorting money from junk shop owners in Valenzuela City, are now facing criminal complaints at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Facing robbery extortion charges are SPO4 Serafin Sarapdon Adante, PO1 Ryand Paul Estapia Antimaro, PO1 Rey Harvey Azadon Florano and civilian Amado Baldong Jr.

Also included in the complaint is Senior Insp.

Adonis Paul Gonzales Escamillan, commander of Police Community Precinct 8 of Valenzuela City.

The case was filed at the DOJ Wednesday, where Sarapdon, Antimaro, Florano and Baldon were subjected to inquest proceedings following their arrest.

Escamillan, meanwhile, remains at large and is now being hunted by elements of the Philippine National Police Counter Intelligence Task Force (PNP-CITF).

Operatives of the CITF and PNP-Intelligence Group (IG), in coordination with the Valenzuela City police, arrested the suspects in an entrapment operation along Mindanao Avenue in Barangay Ugong at about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday.

The operation stemmed from reports that the said police personnel were involved in extorting PHP200 to PHP500 from junk shop owners in the community on a daily basis.

Recovered from the operation were marked money worth PHP200 and several other bills in different denominations.

The suspects and the recovered marked money and other bills were taken to the CITF in Camp Crame, Quezon City for documentation and filing of appropriate cases.

The National Capital Region Police Office, quoting Northern Police District director Chief Supt. Gregorio N. Lim, said: “personnel of the Police Community Precinct No. 8 of the Valenzuela City Police Station, including the PCP commander, will be relieved and will be subjected (to) investigation.”