3 cops face charges for alleged extortion of TV host

Three policemen from the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) were slapped with criminal charges on Monday for their alleged extortion on television host Arnel Ignacio. HPG spokesperson Superintendent Edwin Butacan said P03 Neil Pono, PO3 Levi Llagas and PO1 Joel Lasala were charged with robbery-extortion for allegedly demanding P50,000 from Ignacio last Saturday after they caught the TV host allegedly driving a smuggled vehicle. Ignacio, in his complaint, said the three threatened to impound the Porsche he was driving on allegations that it is smuggled. He said the policemen even accompanied him to his home to get the money. Butacan, however, said Pono, Llagas and Lasala have consistently denied Ignacio’s accusations. He further said Ignacio was able to present sufficient documents to prove that the vehicle was legally acquired through bank financing. Butacan said administrative charges were also being prepared against the three policemen, which may lead to their suspension for three months. The policemen were also relieved from their duties, stripped of their firearms and restricted to the HPG quarters, according to Butacan. - Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News