Anti-crime group says some cops involved in extortion schemes

An anti-crime advocacy group on Thursday said policemen involved in the alleged extortion activities have abused their authority while operating in the guise of police anti-illegal drug operations.

Teresita Ang-See, founding chairperson of the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO), said she believes policemen can now easily plant evidence and get away with it since they were given a "blanket authority" by the Duterte administration.

"Definitely, abuso talaga yung ginagawa nitong kidnap-extortion na ito kasi iniisip nila may blanket authority sila at madali naman nilang i-sway yung attention. Sabihin lang nila talagang involved 'yan sa drugs, it's so easy for them to just plant drugs," Ang-See said in an interview with GMA News Tricia Zafra on "Balitanghali."

Ang-See said policemen previously involved in illegal drugs resorted to using Oplan Tokhang, the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the Philippine National Police, as modus to extort money or the so-called Tokhang for Ransom.

"Suddenly wala silang pagkakakitaan so maghahanap ng mga creative ways," she said.

"Ang problema sa mga biktima na hindi nagre-report, pinakita lang it's much easier than being involved sa drugs, na napakadali nitong kidnap-extortion," she said.

Extortion cases

Ang-See cited 11 cases reported to MRPO where policemen went to the homes or business offices of Chinese nationals to extort money in the guise of conducting anti-illegal drug operations.

Among the victims Ang-See mentioned include a Chinese tourist captured in his hotel in Binondo, Manila, a day after his arrival, and was asked to pay P3 million for his charges to be dropped.

"Ito yung kaso sa isang hotel sa Binondo. Yung tourist kararating lang ng November 6, November 7 may kasamang Chinese ang mga pulis at biglang hinuli itong tourist na 'to dahil may drugs daw ganon. Sumama naman pero hiningan ng tatlong milyon," Ang-See said.

Ang-See added that the case of the Chinese national was supposed to be dropped until the suspects learned the incident has been reported to MRPO.

"By November 9 dumating yung kapatid nitong tourist na 'to galing sa China, inabutan ng P1 million yung pulis pero ang nangyari, since na-ireport sa amin at inalert namin 'yung mga pulis, tinuluyan nila yung kaso," she said, adding the policemen claimed they conducted a surveillance operation against the victim.

"Na-inquest nila pero ang report nila November 7 ng afternoon nila kinuha. Pero hindi totoo dahil yung CCTV kitang-kita, November 7 ng tanghali kinuha na nila at yung report ng mga pulis na nag-surveillance daw sila bago mag-operation imposible dahil kararating lang the previous afternoon itong taong ito," she said.

Ang-See said the victim was even forced by the policemen to hold a plastic bag believed to be containing illegal drugs.

"Pilit nga pinapahawak sa kanya yung plastic pero sabi niya talagang hindi niya hinawakan kasi hindi niya alam ano pinapahawak sa kanya," she said.

Ang-See also mentioned a case where policemen accused a Chinese businessman of selling fake goods. The businessman was told that if he fails to pay a certain amount of money, drug-related charges will be filed against them.

"Yung isa... pinasok sa tindahan sabi peke ang paninda ninyo. Nung pinakita na hindi naman peke ang paninda tinangay pa rin sila at sabi na pag hindi ka nagbayad kakasuhan ka namin sa drugs na itong tindahan mo ginagamit na front for drugs. Unfortunately, lahat ng ito nagbayad," Ang-See said.

She added that aside from ninja cops, there is another group wherein members introduce themselves as agents of the National Bureau of investigation.

Meanwhile, Ang-See encouraged the victims, whom she said are all Chinese nationals, to report extortion cases to authorities and the Chinese embassy officials.

"The biggest problem is ayaw mag-report nitong mga taong ito. Kaya sinasabi namin na sige ayaw niyo mag-report naka-record ngayon sa pulis na baka may tinatago kayong drugs. Minsan tinatakot na namin ganyan pero minsan ayaw nilang maki-cooperate," she said.

"To prove na totoong nangyari itong mga kaso. So they should cooperate to help maintain law and order at 'yung mga pulis intensify 'yung mga investigation kasi sayang yung ginagawa nilang magandang trabaho kung nasisiraan sila because of all of this ibang mga pulis na masyadong nag-aabuso," she added. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/BAP, GMA News