ELEMENTS of the Philippine National Police-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) arrested Tuesday morning, June 25, a police officer assigned at the Pampanga Provincial Police Office (PPO) over alleged extortion.

In a report, the IMEG identified the arrested policeman as Corporal Joeton Samson, who is assigned at the Mabalacat City Police Station and detailed as a jailer in Pampanga PPO.

Samson was arrested during an entrapment operation conducted along Mc Arthur Highway, Barangay Maimpis, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

"During the said operation, the arrested suspect tried to evade arrest by speeding off with his Toyota Wigo vehicle with conduction sticker A3L997 towards the arresting officer, prompting them to neutralize the suspect by shooting the tires of said vehicle to prevent from fleeing," IMEG officer-in-charge Colonel Romeo Caramat Jr. said.

“Eventually, the suspect was cornered along Mac Arthur Highway, Barangay Sindalan, San Fernando City but instead of surrendering, he immediately fired his FA towards the operatives, prompting them to return fire, hitting the suspect on his left shoulder,” he added.

Samson was immediately given first aid treatment. He is in a stable condition, said police.

Recovered from his possession were the marked boodle money amounting to P150,000 and one Glock pistol.

Samson’s arrest stemmed from a complaint that he was demanding money in exchange for the release of a vehicle, a Toyota Vios, which was confiscated during an anti-drug operation.

Caramat said charges of robbery extortion, attempted homicide and grave misconduct will be filed against Samson. (SunStar Philippines)