By JEFFREY G. DAMICOG
The Department of Justice (DoJ) has recommended the filing of charges against three policemen and their civilian companion for their involvement in extortion activities in Valenzuela City.
In a five-page resolution, Assistant State Prosecutor Loverhette Jeffrey Villordon recommended charging the four suspects with robbery under Article 293 in relation to Article 294 of the Revised Penal Code.
“In this case, all the elements of the crime of robbery are present,” said Villordon.
Those to be charged are SPO4 Serafin Adante, PO1 Ryand Paul Antimaro, PO1 Rey Harvey Florano, and civilian Amado Baldon Jr.
The resolution was released after the four were subjected to inquest proceedings at the DoJ on August 1.
They were arrested on July 31 during an entrapment operation in Valenzuela City conducted by the operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Counter Intelligence Task Force (CITF) and the PNP-Intelligence Group.
On the other hand, Villordon recommended that Senior Inspector Adonis Paul Escamillan be further investigated over his alleged involvement in the illegal activities.
Escamillan is the commander of Police Community Precinct 8 of Valenzuela City and the supervising officer of the three policemen.
Villordon pointed out that Escamillan was “not arrested during the entrapment operation” but was named by the complainant as “the police officer who initially intimidated the victim.”
The operation stemmed from a complaint of several junkshop owners in Barangay Ugong.
The junkshop owners claimed that they were allegedly asked to shell out a weekly payola to the policemen ranging from R200 to R500.
The policemen through Baldon allegedly threatened the junkshop owners that their businesses would be closed down for violating the environment code and the city ordinance if they refuse to give protection money.
