Pubdate: Fri, 24 Jun 2005
Source: Sun.Star Cebu (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Sun.Star
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1690
Author: Rene H. Martel & Jovy S. Taghoy

CITY TO GIVE NBI AGENTS P50T

A REWARD of P50,000 will be given to the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) 7 for arresting two Cebu City policemen for
extortion Wednesday night.

Mayor Tomas Osmena will increase the amount to P100,000 if the NBI
will get another "scalawag" among the City police.

That, as Cebu City Police Acting Director Melvin Gayotin yesterday
ordered the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB) to
investigate PO2 Robert Cuyos and PO1 Leo Batigalao for possible
administrative liabilities.

The NBI arrested Cuyos and Batigalao, both of the Vice Control
Section, for allegedly extorting money from couple Francisco and
Dahlia Nabua.

Trust, Confidence

But even before the administrative probe could start, Osmena already
wants the two out of the police force, as Councilor Augustus Pe Jr.
suggested.

The rule "innocent until proven guilty" should not apply to policemen,
Osmena said. "Theirs is a position that demands trust and confidence.
And lack of confidence is enough reason for termination."

According to Pe, the Nabua couple first complained to him that
Batigalao and Cuyos demanded P200,000 so complaints for illegal drugs
will not be filed against them.

The two policemen allegedly asked for P95,000 last month so they will
not file a complaint against Francisco.

Entrapment

The couple said they gave the money, but Batigalao and Cuyos allegedly
asked for P100,000 more, this time, for Dehlia to be spared from a
similar complaint.

The couple negotiated with the policemen, who later agreed to
P30,000.

Pe, City Council chairman of the committee on dangerous drugs,
secretly contacted NBI 7 Director Medardo De Lemos.

The two policemen were caught in possession of the P10,000 marked
money that NBI operatives used to entrap them near a gasoline station
on B. Rodriguez St.

Yesterday, the mayor said NBI 7 had his full support during the
operation.

"I understand NBI may feel they are crossing territories but if they
are going to go after the scoundrels in our police department, I
really don't mind," said Osmena.

The arrest of Cuyos and Batigalao was not the first case of an alleged
extortion involving the Vice Control Section.

Bad Eggs

Last Aug. 10, PO3 Paquito Flores Monterroyo was also arrested for
allegedly extorting P300,000 from a trader in Lapu-Lapu City.

"You can't expect that everything goes well in an organization. There are 
always bad eggs, but I have never been remiss in reminding them. If ever 
they will be found guilty of the allegation, then they have to face the 
penalty," Gayotin said in a press conference yesterday.

Gayotin said Batigalao called him up hours after his arrest last Wednesday.

He said Batigalao told him about the entrapment and indirectly denied 
engaging in the illegal activity.

Batigalao, according to Gayotin, said a friend called him up and told him 
to proceed near a gasoline station on B. Rodriguez St.

Batigalao's friend reportedly had something to give him.

The meeting, however, turned out to be an entrapment of the NBI.

Cuyos and Batigalao denied knowing the Nabua couple
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