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Friday, July 21, 2006
Wife of ‘big-time trafficker’ accuses 6 cops of extortion
At least six policemen from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) allegedly solicited favors in cash or in kind from suspected big-time drug pusher Epifras “Tatay Pepe” Regis and his family.
A policeman from the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) also allegedly extorted P500,000 so a drug case against Epifras’ son, Manny, will not be filed. Manny was reportedly arrested in Liloan, Cebu last May.
Gloria Regis, 57, in an interview with reporters at the CCPO stockade, said the six policemen usually visited their house in Villagonzalo II, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City to ask money for gasoline or cellular phone load.
Gloria and her husband Epifras, who has been tagged as a “level one” drug pusher, were arrested late Tuesday night in Lapu-Lapu City, in an operation by a joint team of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB) and the Vice Control Section.
She said the visits have long been the practice of the policemen, who became close to them. Some of them even served as sponsors of the wedding of one of her sons in August last year.
These policemen used to be assigned at the Waterfront Police Station, where Villagonzalo II falls under its jurisdiction. They are now assigned in different police stations in the city.
One of the six policemen, Gloria said, also asked for financial assistance to buy medicine.
PO2 Stanley Aldemita, one of the six policemen mentioned by Gloria, denied the allegation, saying it a usual alibi of people arrested for drugs.
“It’s as if we don’t have any salary. I do not know them (couple) personally. I know them as drug personalities,” Aldemita said.
Sun.Star Cebu is withholding the names of the five other policemen pending their comments.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he is happy with the couple’s arrest but he is apprehensive that they could get off the hook because of their reported connections with law enforcers.
Osmeña said the campaign against illegal drugs “is a very dangerous game,” especially when the police are dealing with very influential people.
Acting CCPO Director Melvin Gayotin, in a separate interview, said he will order CIIB Chief Pablo Labra II to investigate the policemen.
Gayotin said there is nothing wrong with policemen standing as wedding sponsors as long as this is not used as reason for extortion.
He hopes Gloria will execute an affidavit to give teeth to the investigation.
“Without the affidavit, it will not hold water,” he said.
Meanwhile, CPPO Director Vicente Loot ordered the relief of SPO1 Raymund Enriquez of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Force (PAIDSOTF), following the allegation of Gloria that he had pocketed P500,000 cash.
Loot said Enriquez was transferred to the Provincial Security and Service Group until the investigation on him will be finished.
Loot said Gloria’s accusation was already the third one he received about Enriquez’s alleged extortion or protection in relation with illegal drugs.
Gloria told reporters yesterday that about a month ago, her son Manny was arrested in Liloan town by policemen from the provincial command.
Manny was released after Enriquez allegedly received P500,000.
Enriquez, in a mobile phone interview last night, denied the allegation as it was just meant to besmirch his profession.
He said the PAIDSOTF implemented a search warrant for drugs against Manny about a month ago but he did not participate in the operation.
PAIDSOTF Chief Hernan Lungayan, in a separate interview at the CPPO headquarters, said two heat-sealed plastic packets of shabu, weighing .08 grams, were found in Manny’s house in Barangay San Vicente, Liloan last May 25.
Lungayan also showed to reporters the case folder containing documents on the operation.
The search warrant was issued against Manny and Epifras.
Epifras, however, was not around and the police only arrested Manny.
Charges of possession of shabu were filed against Manny and Epifras with a bail bond of P200,000.
CIIB Chief Labra told reporters that Epifras was presented yesterday to Regional Trial Court Judge Fortunato de Gracia Jr. to return the warrant of arrest against him and for the judge to issue a commitment order.
Epifras was sent to the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center, while complaints were against Epifras, Gloria and his driver Christopher Omambac before the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office.
The Regis couple and Omambac were arrested in a pension house in Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City around 11 p.m. Tuesday. (JST/With LCR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 21, 2006 issue)
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