A POLICEMAN assigned in Minglanilla town, southern Cebu was accused of extorting money from a truck driver and his helper last Wednesday night.
SPO1 Renato Masangcay allegedly demanded P1,000 in exchange for the release of the driver’s license.
Ruben Rosell, supervisor of GM Industries, lodged a complaint against Masangcay before the Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Branch (PIDMB) of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).
Rosell said they hired the wing van to deliver some equipment of a telecommunications company to Negros Oriental.
He said policemen on board a patrol car flagged them down in barangay Tungkop.
Masangcay allegedly took the truck driver’s license.
Rosell said Masangcay told them that they will be issued a temporary operator’s permit (TOP) because one of the truck helpers was only wearing slippers.
It was then that the policeman demanded P1,000 in exchange for the release of the license of the wing van’s driver.
“Akong gihangyo nga isyuhan nalang mi ug TOP kay malangay na mi ba, pero ni-insist man gyud nga bayran ug usa ka libo. Ako nalang gihangyo nga 500 (I told him to just issue us with TOP to avoid delays. But he insisted that we give him P1,000. I haggled it down to P500),” said Rosell.
He said he was surprised why the policemen apprehended them, but did not do anything about habal-habal drivers who were not wearing helmets.
PO3 Norman Años, chief investigator of IDMB, said Masangcay will be asked to answer the accusations against him.
Años said Masangcay may face administrative and criminal charges.