By Aaron Recuenco
Two policemen, one an officer with a rank of Captain, were arrested in two separate operations over alleged extortion, the Philippine National Police Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG), said.
(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN)
IMEG director Col. Ronald Lee said first to fall was 55-year old Capt. Joseph Bocalbos who was assigned as community precinct commander in Ermita, Manila. Nabbed with him was his alleged bagman identified as Joyce Sajines.
“We conducted the operation based on the complaints of some market vendors in Barangay Paz,” said Lee.
Based on the complaint, each illegal market vendor was being forced to pay P150 as protection money. It was reportedly Sajines who was tasked to collect the payment.
“Once they fail to give the amount, they are being subjected to harassment by the officer,” said Lee.
Bocalbos was arrested right inside the Paz Community-Precinct Commander at around 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
IMEG agents also collared Police Staff Sgt. Joel Bunugan for allegedly demanding a huge sum of money from police applicants by claiming he can alter the result of their medical records.
He said Bunugan, assigned as ambulance driver for the PNP Health Service, was arrested during an entrapment operation at the S and R Mall along Commonwealth Avenue in Fairview, Quezon City.
He was then receiving P100,000 marked bills from a complainant, a police recruit who failed the medical examination.
Both cops are now facing criminal and administrative charges. (Aaron Recuenco)