Two policemen assigned in Cavite landed in jail after they were accused of forcing an Egyptian to cough up momey in exchange for the dropping of a sexual assault case, the Philippine National Police-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) disclosed on Saturday, July 8.
Nabbed were Police Staff Sgt. Randy B. Batonghino, assigned to the Imus City Police Station; and, Police Corporal Roderick C. Bajado, assigned to the Dasmariñas City Police Station.
PNP-IMEG director Brig. Gen. Warren de Leon said the operation conducted at around 5 p.m. on July 6 in Dasmariñas City stemmed from the complaint of the Egyptian who said the two cops were demanding P200,000 from him after he became the subject of a rape complaint.
The Egyptian told the IMEG operatives that Bajado, along with the alleged victim and her family, went to his house in Dasmariñas City on July 2 to ask for money as a settlement for a rape case.
“Bajado together with the alleged victim and her family/relatives came to their house and asked a friendly talk to settle down his alleged problem involving a crime that he did not commit,” said de Leon.
“The said PNP personnel further asked him how much he can pay for settlement or else there will be a case filed, imprisonment and social media exposure that will destroy his reputation,” he added.
The Egyptian has been living in Cavite after marrying a Filipina.
An entrapment was then carried out which resulted in the arrest of the two cops and the confiscation of a boodle money, their PNP identification cards, cellular phones and service firearms.
The two policemen were immediately taken to the IMEG office and are now facing administrative and criminal charges.