FOUR members of the Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) of Las Piñas City Police are now being hunted by authorities after they allegedly demanded money in exchange for the liberty of a man they arrested for possession of illegal drugs.
The four cops identified as PO3 Joel Lupig, PO2 Vener Guanlao, PO1 Jefferson Fulgencio and PO1 Jeffrey de Leon managed to escape an entrapment launched by police after they asked a 13-year-old boy to get the money for them.
The operation stemmed from the complaint of a relative of Cyrus Ligutan, a resident of Barangay Bulihan, Silang, Cavite, who was arrested by the four suspects for alleged possession of illegal drugs.
The police officers initially demanded P200,000 from his sister Shelane Ligutan in exchange for his freedom.
Shelane, however, managed to convince the cops to reduce the amount to P30,000. She later reported the transaction to the Las Piñas City Police.
An entrapment operation was set by the Las Pinas City Police, Silang Cavite Police and Cavite Provincial Intelligence Branch against the four cops.
During the operation at around 11 p.m. Wednesday on Quirino Avenue corner Victor Medina St., a 13-year-old boy appeared to take the P30,000.
A brief chase ensued but the suspects escaped on board a dark grey Isuzu Hi-lander bearing a “Sinaglahi sticker”.
Police said that Cyrus was later freed by the suspects.
The boy will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (Dhel Nazario)