Caloocan police official, cohort arrested for extortion

August 3, 2020

A Caloocan police station commander and an accomplice were arrested by the Philippine National Police- Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) on Monday for robbery-extortion.

Police Brig. General Roland Lee, IMEG director, said Police Major Celso Sevilla and his cohort were arrested by members of the PNP-IMEG Luzon Field Unit who conducted the entrapment operation inside sub-station 10 in Caloocan City around 12 noon. Another cop, Police Corporal Albert Cruz, remained at-large.

“We have received several complaints regarding the involvement of the two policemen in a massive protection racket in their area where they demand money from gasoline vendors in exchange of their unhampered business operation” said Lee.

He ordered the conduct of the sting following a complaint from a gasoline vendor and series of validations.

The complainant sought the assistance of the PNP-IMEG to go after the suspects who were allegedly demanding  P300 money weekly in exchange for unhampered operations of their business.

Sevilla was arrested shortly after their civilian cohort received P300 in marked bills from the complainant and subsequently gave the cash to the PCP Commander.

“We have arrested another police officer accused of extortion in line with our continuing implementation of Gen. (Archie) Gamboa’s directive to go after rogues in uniform regardless of their rank and stature,” Lee said.

“We assure the public too that we will immediately and properly act on all complaints against erring police officers and men being forwarded to us,” he added.

The suspects were brought to PNP-IMEG headquarters for booking and documentation after their arrest.

Lee said they will be filing criminal charges against the suspects and administrative charges against police officers involved.  Ella Dionisio/DMS