AN ACTIVE police officer was caught past 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, for an extortion attempt inside a mall in Barangay Ibabao-Estancia, Mandaue City, Cebu.
Senior Police Officer 2 Vicente Dela Pena Gila Jr. was arrested by a joint team from Cebu City Police Station 8 and Consolacion Police Station.
Gila, who is presently assigned in Consolacion Police Station, allegedly asked for P10,000 in return of a los cellphone owned by John Vincent Gonzaga Rafols's.
The victim is the manager of a pension house in General Santos City.
The phone was recovered from the police.
Police Regional Office-Central Visayas Director Debold Sinas said Gila will be facing administrative and criminal complaints.
"We don't tolerate this," he said.
He ordered the confiscation of Gila's government-issued firearm. Gila was also subjected to a drug test.
The chief of Consolacion Police Station will be ordered to explain why Gila was in the mall.
Sinas said he is disappointed that there are still police officers who engage in illegal activities despite the raise of their salaries. (KAL/SunStar Cebu)