CEBU CITY — Some officers of the Mabolo Police Station are under investigation for alleged extortion from a fiesta carnival operator in Barangay Busay, this city.
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) deputy director for administration Superintendent Artemio Recabo ordered the investigation Friday on the alleged personnel from the Mabolo Station, headed by Chief Inspector Clark Arriola.
Reports reaching the CCPO said these “kotong” cops initially asked for PHP1,000 weekly from the carnival owner in exchange for protection and later demanded an increase to PHP3,000 plus a sack of rice allegedly on orders of Arriola.
As the carnival operator could no longer keep up with the demands of the policemen, he recently sought the help of a radio personality, who discussed the matter in his program.
Irked by the attacks of the broadcaster against them, the rogue police officers reportedly raided the carnival Thursday night and confiscated all the gaming materials they could get their hands on.
Recabo said extortion is a detestable act unbecoming a police officer, and extorting money from a small-time businessman is a disreputable activity of low life.
Recabo assured that these scoundrels in the Mabolo police force, if found guilty, will not go unpunished. ( with reports from Michelle Bugtai/PNA)
