A NON-UNIFORMED personnel was arrested in an entrapment operation for allegedly extorting money from a retiring policeman in Zamboanga del Norte, the police said Friday, April 28.
Arrested was Vincent Carpitanos, 50, designated as the Provincial Supply Accountable officer of the Zamboanga del Norte Police Provincial Office (ZDNPPO).
The ZDNPPO said that Carpitanos was arrested in an entrapment operation around 12:38 p.m. Thursday, April 27 at his residence in the village of Estaka, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.
The police said that Carpitanos, before his arrest, demanded P240,000 payment from Police Officer 3 Victor Cogo, 55, in exchange for the release of the latter’s retirement clearance.
Carpitanos allegedly took possession of the three folders of documents of Cogo to ensure payment, which both agreed it will be done in installment basis.
The police said that Cogo went to the residence of Carpitanos around 8 a.m. Tuesday, April 25 and paid an initial amount of P50,000. It was followed by the payment of P20,000.
Cogo went to the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of the ZDNPPO and filed a complaint against Carpitanos, thus, the conduct of entrapment operation was hatched.
A joint entrapment operation was carried out by the PIB and Dipolog City intelligence policemen that resulted to the arrest of Carpitanos after he received another P20,000 around 12:38 p.m. Friday at his residence.
The police said recovered from the possession of Carpitanos during his arrest were P20,000 marked money in different denominations.
Carpitanos was detained at the Dipolog City Police Station while appropriate charges are set to be filed against him, the police said. (SunStar Philippines)