7 Las Piñas cops involved in robbery-extortion surrender

National Capital Region Police Office Chief Guillermo Eleazar (right) talks to the seven cops who have surrendered on Thursday for their alleged involvement in a robbery-extortion incident involving a relative of a drug suspect. (Photo courtesy of SPD PIO via PNA)

MANILA — The seven cops assigned at the Las Piñas City Police’s Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) have surrendered on Thursday for their alleged involvement in a robbery-extortion against a relative of a drug suspect.

Southern Police District (SPD) Director Senior Supt. Eliseo Cruz identified the policemen as PO1 Erickson Rivera, PO3 Joel Lupig, PO2 Vener Guanlao, PO1 Mark Jefferson Fulgencio, PO1 Jeffrey De Leon, PO2 Jayson Arellano, and PO1 Raymart Gomez.

National Capital Region Police Office head Police Director Guillermo Eleazar condemned the alleged robbery-extortion and said in a statement Friday that a criminal case of kidnapping with serious illegal detention and an administrative case for grave misconduct have been filed against the seven policemen.

“Certainly, we will see to it that Team NCRPO will be on top of these cases, so we can weed out these undesirables from our ranks. Kaalinsabay nito, nais kong pasalamatan ang ating mga kababayan na nagtiwala at nagsuplong upang masiwalat at makarating sa pamunuan ang mga kalokohang ito (I would like to thank those who reported these wrongdoings to us),” Eleazar said in a statement.

Initial investigation showed that operatives of the Silang, Cavite Police, the Parañaque Police, and the Las Piñas Police conducted an entrapment operation along Padre Diego Sierra Ave. in Barangay Manuyo Uno last Nov. 21 and arrested a minor for allegedly extorting money from a certain Shelane Ligutan, whose brother, Cyrus Wency, was arrested for possession of illegal drugs in Silang, Cavite.

The seven policemen allegedly ordered the minor to ask money from Ligutan, who reported the incident to the police. The seven policemen sped off from the scene after sensing the presence of the cops.

Earlier, Eleazar relieved from duty Senior Supt.

Marion Balolong, Las Piñas police chief; Senior Insp. Edgardo Tigbao, SDEU head; and 36 policemen assigned at the SDEU last week due to the incident.