At least six policemen extorting money from traders passing by police checkpoints were arrested by Counter-Intelligence Task Force operatives past midnight Tuesday in Caranglan, Nueva Ecija.
In a report, Chief Insp. Supt Jewel Nicanor, CITF spokesman, identified the arrested enforcers as SPO1 Antonio Otic, PO3 Danilo Sotelo, PO3 Ronald Buncad, PO3 Oliver Antonio, PO2 Rodrigo Edralin and PO2 Romeo Nunez III.
ON learning of the arrest of the six so-called “kotong cops,” PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa immediately recommended their dismissal from the police service.
“As I’ve said, I will weed out all those scalawags,” Dela Rosa said of his policy to stamp-out rotten eggs from the service.
The operation also led to the arrest of two civilians acting as collectors.
Nicanor identified the two civilians as Ramon Cabilangan and Darwin Lagisma.
Confiscated from their possession are money in different denominations and firearms. The police also confiscated their personal belongings and turned them over to Sr. Insp. De Guzman, the Chief of Police of Caranglan police station.
“The truck helpers had been accustomed of throwing P5 as they passed the checkpoint. Traders who refused to give money are being chased by the policemen and their goods temporarily seized,” Nicanor said.
Nicanor said the six policemen were arrested in an entrapment operations in Digdig, Caranglan town PNP checkpoint at 1:20 a.m.
The operations were triggered by numerous complaints from travelling merchants who were reportedly had been victimized by the policemen every time they pass the said checkpoint.
The CITF operatives also confiscated a cal. .45 pistol and a 9mm pistol from SPO1 Otic and PO3 Antonio respectively which were subsequently turned over to the Local Government Unit of Caranglan Municipality.
The arrested policemen and two civilians were brought to Camp Crame while appropriate cases are being readied against them.