THE chief of police of Bocaue town in Bulacan was arrested in an entrapment operation on Saturday, September 22, for alleged extortion.
Superintendent Juwen dela Cruz is now under the custody of the Counter-intelligence Task Force (CITF) pending the filing of charges.
The entrapment was conducted after a complaint was lodged against Dela Cruz, who allegedly demanded for the latest iPhone model worth P75,000 in exchange for the release of a sports utility vehicle recovered from a drug suspect.
Superintendent Joel Estaris, CITF deputy commander, said they also found out during investigation that Dela Cruz has been asking the owners of seized vehicles for a certain amount in exchange for their units.
Estaris added that the official confiscated five vehicles, but did not record this in the blotter.
A Mitsubishi Montero, Toyota Vios, Toyota Wigo and two motorcycles are not included in the inventory of items confiscated during anti-criminality and anti-illegal drugs operations.
The vehicles are also allegedly being used for police operation and personal travel of the police official.
The entrapment operation was conducted by the CITF operatives together with the elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Highway Patrol Group, Intelligence Group and Central Luzon Police Regional Office (PRO3). (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)