Thursday, August 12, 2004 Ex-cop uses 'death squad' to extort from coed By Rex C. Otero
DAVAO CITY -- A law student accused Wednesday a former police officer of extorting money from her in exchange for helping her escape a shadowy vigilante group in the city that reportedly has her as its next target.
Mimihue Montero, 25, a law student of the University of Mindanao in Davao City, said Edison Dorado, 31, of NHA Buhangin, told her she was going to be the vigilante group's next target owing to her alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
Montero filed charges Wednesday against Dorado before the City Prosecutor's Office. In her complaint, Montero said Dorado approached her around 3:30 p.m. on August 7 and told her the group victimizing smalltime criminals in the city was after her.
"Wala siya (Dorado) nag-claim nga member siya sa (death squad), pero ingon niya kaila siya sa nga mopatay daw sa akoa kay suspected drug trafficker daw ko. Gigamit pa gani niya ang name ni Mayor (Rodrigo) Duterte," Montero said. (He did not claim to be a member of the death squad, but he said he knew some of its members who are out to get me since I am a suspected drug trafficker. He even used the name of Mayor Duterte.)
The suspect, who was dismissed from the police force for falsifying his eligibility, is detained at the San Pedro police station.
When he introduced himself to Montero, he introduced himself as a police asset although he was no longer in the active service.
Police investigators said Dorado was once detailed with the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (R2) in Camp Catitipan.
"I-inquest namo ni siya karon (We will do an inquest). I-file namo sa iyaha (The we will file charges for) serious illegal detention and robbery extortion (against him)," said Senior Police Officer 2 Stephen Abella of the San Pedro Police Office.
Abella is handling the complaint filed by Montero, a resident of 48 James Apartment, Bolton Extension.
Montero said she knows Dorado and was a friend of the suspect's wife.
She denied being involved in illegal drugs when interviewed by Sun.Star Wednesday.
She also said she knew the suspect was a policeman but had no idea he was dismissed from the service.
Senior Inspector Jing Corrales clarified that Dorado was no longer connected with the police organization.
Montero had added in her complaint that Dorado took her to Larous Pension House on Ilustre Street.
Inside the inn, she was made to lie on the floor and had fake blood painted all over her body to make her appear dead. The suspect then took photographs of her.
The pictures will supposedly be shown to the shadowy vigilante group who wanted her dead.
Dorado allegedly asked P10,000 from Montero in exchange for his help.
He then asked Montero to leave the city the soonest possible time and never to return again.
According to Montero, they went out of Larous Inn at around 12:30 p.m. on August 8.
She claimed Dorado brought her to her friend Evelyn Gabriento at Rosalina Village.
On the morning of August 10, Montero decided to report the incident to the San Pedro police.
An entrapment operation was set up and this resulted in the arrest of Dorado around 6 p.m. on August 10.
Recovered from Dorado, among others, were Montero's personal belongings such as comb, bank withdrawal slip with Montero's cellular phone number, and film negatives taken of Montero pretending to be dead.
Dorado said he was not extorting money from Montero since she is a friend. He said his intention was only to help her.
Dorado also said he was willing to help her get a plane ticket for Manila. He claimed that two men approached him and asked him about Montero's alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade.
"In good intent man akong gihimo sa iyaha. Gikuhaan nako siya og picture aron ipalupok nga patay na siya aron dili na siya samokon," he said. (I have nothing but good intentions. I took her picture so the people who are after her would leave her alone.)
Dorado even named one of those who were allegedly out to kill Montero.
But the identity of the person is withheld pending investigation.
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