A POLICEMAN was arrested in an entrapment operation for extortion by operatives of the Counter Intelligence Task Force (CITF) and Special Action Force (SAF) in Basilan, a top police official said Friday, June 1.
Chief Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo, deputy regional director for administration of the Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula, identified the arrested policeman as PO3 Basir Alam of the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group 9 based in Isabela City, Basilan.
Alam was arrested in an entrapment around 3:15 p.m. Friday, June 1, at the port area of Isabela City, said De Ocampo.
He said the entrapment operation was carried out after the CITF received a complaint that policemen are extorting P500 to P1,000 from cargo shippers in exchange for the issuance of travel clearance to board the ships plying the Isabela-Zamboanga route and vice-versa.
He said Alam was brought to the headquarters of the Basilan Provincial Police Office in preparation for the filing of a case against him.
The CITF was created by then PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa to run after policemen involved in illegal activities. (SunStar Philippines)