Police intelligence agents headed by Senior Superintendent Jose Chiquito Malayo arrested 7 Manila cops for extorting money from a drug courier. The police authorities said that the seven cops will be facing dismissal proceedings from their police organization after they were reported to extort P 100,000 from the mother of a drug courier suspect over the weekend.
Among those arrested were police officers Jack Rennert Ectbanas, Christian Paul Bondoc, Mark Ryan Mones, Benedick Alojacin, Jessrald Pacinio, Jonnel Barocaboc and Kenneth Loria
Manila Police Director Oscar Albayalde said the police officers earlier arrested Mark Echapare, for the possession of illegal drugs in the Village of Longos in Manila. One of the arresting police officers used Echapare's mobile phone to call Echapare's mother and demanded the amount of P 100,000 for her son's release.
Echapare's mother immediately coordinated with the Counter Intelligence Task Force who went to the scene and arrested their fellow cops. The 7 cops are presently at the custody of the CITF. Aside from extortion, the arrested cops will also face physical injuries and kidnapping charges.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has recently launched a campaign to arrest cops reportedly involved in illegal drugs extortion, and trade.
Calling them ninja cops, Duterte described ninja cops as those who confiscate drugs from couriers and these unscrupulous cops sell the drugs to drug users.
Earlier, Duterte also offered at least USD 40,000 to tipsters who can provide information that will lead to the arrest of police officers involved in the drug trade of the late mayor Reynaldo Parajinog of Ozamis City.
Police authorities described the late Parajinog as one of the biggest drug lord operating in the Southern Philippines. Parajinog was killed along with his security escorts when police officers raided his house.
Duterte has launched the campaign against drugs after he announced that illegal drugs have infested almost all villages in the country.
