QC cop in extort try may face raps

MANILA -- The policeman who allegedly tried to extort money from the son of new Metro Manila police chief Leonardo Espina may face administrative and criminal charges, a police official said.

Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega, director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), said SP04 Jose dela Peña may face charges of grave misconduct and robbery extortion.

However, a formal written complaint is yet to be made by Espina’s son, who was reportedly traumatized by the incident.

On Monday afternoon, dela Peña surfaced at the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal after he went missing since his alleged extort attempt on Espina’s son last week.

Dela Peña, who was accompanied by his lawyers Monday, has surrendered his badge and service firearm to authorities.

He has been relieved from the QCPD Mobile Patrol Unit and will be placed in the administration holding office where he will be under floating status pending the investigation of the alleged extort attempt, according to dela Vega.

On the evening of September 4, dela Peña, together with PO2 Resty del Rosario, chanced on a vehicle parked along Doña Hemady Street in Quezon City and saw the driver, who turned out to be Espina’s son, chatting on his mobile phone.

The two cops accosted the vehicle and accused the younger Espina of engaging in “phone sex.”

They allegedly demanded P20,000 as “fine” for the violation, which was later negotiated to P5,000.

They went to an automated teller machine near the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame so the police official’s son could withdraw the money,

However, the younger Espina decided instead to call his father, who talked to dela Peña.

Espina said the phone was returned to his son presumably when dela Peña realized that he was talking to a high-ranking police official.

The new Metro Manila police chief earlier clarified to the media that his son did not give the money to the erring cops.

Del Rosario, who earlier surfaced on September 7, also insisted that they did not receive money from Espina’s son.

He also claimed that he was just following orders from dela Peña, who has been reportedly involved in other allegations of extortion and police abuse.

Since his reappearance on Monday, the embattled dela Peña has declined to answer questions from the media regarding the accusations against him, saying he is invoking his right to remain silent. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)