Three active police officers and their civilian cohort accused of extorting money from junkshop owners were arrested by their colleagues in an entrapment on Tuesday night in Valenzuela City. Elements of Counter Intelligence Task Force (CITF) and Philippine National Police-Intelligence Group headed by Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr. identified those arrested as Senior Police Officer 4 Serafin Adante, PO1 Ryan Paul Antimaro and PO1 Rey Harvey Florano, all assigned to the Valenzuela Police Community Precinct 8, and their cohort Amado Baldon Jr. The CITF chief said the operation, in coordination with Valenzuela police chief and Senior Supt. David Nicolas Poklay, stemmed from a complaint of several junkshop owners in Barangay Ugong,who were allegedly asked to shell out weekly payola ranging from P200 to P500 for their protection. The policemen through Baldon threatened the junkshop owners who would refuse to give protection money would be recommended for the closure of their establishments for violating the Environment Code and a city ordinance. The policemen and their civilian cohort were still in a mobile car when they were arrested at around 9:15 p.m. after receiving the P200 marked money from one of the junkshop operators. Northern Police District Director and Chief Supt. Gregorio Lim immediately sacked all personnel of Precinct 8, including the commander, while a case for extortion and grave misconduct will be filed against the police officers.
