The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the conviction of two police officers who were sentenced to up to eight years in jail for robbery through extortion.
In a statement Wednesday, the tribunal said its Second Division denied the petitions for review filed by then Police Officer 2 (PO2) Ireneo Sosas Jr. and Senior Police Officer 3 (SPO3) Ariel Salvador.
“Law enforcement officers who abuse their authority to intimidate persons under their custody for money are guilty of robbery by extortion,” the court said.
The charges against the two had been originally filed by the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices following a complaint from Janith Arbuez, a salesperson at a used mobile phones shop inside the Isetann mall in Recto, Manila.
She alleged that on Nov. 10, 2010, Sosas escorted her from the shop to the mall’s administrative office to report her sale of stolen items.
Sosas then brought her to the police station where she was led to a room with Salvador. Sosas then proposed that no criminal complaint for violation of the Anti-Fencing Law would be charged against Arbuez if she would give the officers P20,000.
When Arbuez negotiated for a lower amount, Sosas agreed on the condition they become “sweethearts.” Arbuez refused and called her sister-in-law to bring the money to the station. After 18 hours in detention, Arbuez was released the next day following Sosas’ receipt of the money. Sosas also stated that a complaint will no longer be filed against Arbuez.
