TWO Cavite police officers were apprehended by agents of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) anti-scalawag unit for extorting money from an Egyptian national in exchange for the dropping of a sexual assault case, according to a belated report Saturday.
Brig. Gen. Warren de Leon, Director of the PNP – Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group, identified the suspects as Staff Sgt. Randy Batonghino, assigned to the Imus City Police Station, and Corporal Roderick Bajado, assigned to the Dasmariñas City Police Station.
In a statement, de Leon said the cops were arrested in Barangay Salitran 4, Dasmariñas City at about 5 p.m. on July 6 in an entrapment operation after the Egyptian, who is married to a Filipino national, sought their help.
The Egyptian said Bajado asked him to shell out PHP200,000 so they would not pursue the rape case, which the foreigner denied committing.
Bajado and the alleged rape victim went to the foreigner’s house on July 2 and they agreed on the release of the supposed settlement money four days later when the entrapment was set.
“The said PNP personnel further asked him how much he can pay for a settlement or else there will be a case filed, imprisonment, and social media exposure that will destroy his reputation,” de Leon said.
The PNP identification cards, mobile phones, and service firearms of the duo were immediately confiscated, along with the money.
