BY AARON RECUENCO
A police intelligence officer was arrested Wednesday allegedly for demanding money from a suspected drug personality in exchange for the release of a confiscated motorcycle in Bulacan.
Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, director of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), said the arrested suspect was Staff Sgt. Jonathan dela Cru, head of the intelligence unit of the Norzagaray Municipal Police Station.
Lee said an entrapment was made after they received a complaint that Dela Cruz was asking for P10,000 in exchange for the release of a motorcycle that was confiscated in a drug operation in Norzagaray town on August 26.
“The motorcycle being used by the suspect was found to be not included in the inventory of items that were confiscated during a drug operation last August 26. It was learned that the accused took custody of the motorbike and demanded P10,000 for its release,” said Lee.
Dela Cruz was arrested at around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday after receiving the money.
Seized during the operation were the motorcycle, P10,000 in marked money, and a cellular phone.
The arrested policeman was immediately taken to the IMEG office at Camp Crame and is now facing criminal and administrative charges.
