Bacolod CIDG chief nabbed for soliciting 'protection' money from KTV bar

The chief of the Bacolod City police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group was arrested on Thursday in Mansilingan town for allegedly soliciting "protection" money from the owners of a KTV bar.

The Philippine National Police - Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP - IMEG) on Friday identified the policeman as Police Major Marvin Madrona. He was arrested by joint operatives of the Negros Occidental Police and PNP - IMEG in the Visayas.

An alleged cohort, identified as Jay-R Dela Cruz, was also arrested.

The operation against the suspects stemmed from the complaint of owners of one KTV bar at Golden Field Commercial Complex in Barangay Singcang.

The complainants said the suspects were demanding P5,000 in exchange for "protection" of the KTV bar so that it could still operate.

Initial investigation bared that the bar was raided by authorities earlier this month. The owner of the bar and some entertainers were arrested.

They were later released from detention on the condition that the owner would pay P5,000 on a weekly basis to Madrona as well as a separate P6,000 for travel and food expenses.

According to PNP - IMEG chief Police Colonel Ronald Lee, Madrona, who was previously assigned to Quezon City Police District Station 5, was charged in 2017 for physical injury, arbitrary detention and grave coercion for mauling an overseas Filipino worker.

He was then placed under restrictive custody of the PNP headquarters.

The suspects are presently detained for proper documentation and filing of cases. —KBK, GMA News