THE man who was arrested February 7 for posing as “policeman” to dupe more than 10 taxi drivers in Bacolod City was released from detention on February 8 due to the absence of a formal complaint.
Police identified the suspect as John Patrick Calsado, 30, of Regent Pearl Home DC3, Barangay Alijis.
Senior Inspector Eugene Tolentino, chief of Police Station 1, said complainant Ronnie Gildo did not show up for the filing of the estafa.
Since the 12-hour reglementary had already lapsed, they released Calsado, he added.
Calsado was reported by Gildo, 42, and other taxi drivers for his failure to pay the money he borrowed from them.
The taxi drivers said Calsado would usually introduce himself as a policeman to deceive his victims and would ask money from them.
Tolentino said Calsado flagged down Gildo’s taxi at the downtown area early Tuesday morning and told him to bring him to a spa as he was looking for massage therapists for the four officials of a law enforcement agency.
After an hour, Calsado borrowed P700 from Gildo and told him that he will pay him at the headquarters, but the latter refused and instead brought him to the police station around 3 a.m.
Tolentino said Gildo called other taxi drivers to notify them about the apprehension of Calsado, whom the victims confirmed to have also deceived them.
Calsado refused to comment on the allegations against him.
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Jack Wanky, officer-in-charge of Bacolod City Police Office, urged victims of extortion to come out so the police could act on it.
Wanky said he received a report about a businessman, who was allegedly called by a former policeman to extort money from him. He, however, said his office has not received a formal complaint.
Police cannot identify suspects if the victims are not cooperating, he added.