MANILA, Philippines — A transport network vehicle service (TNVS) driver has filed a complaint before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) against four Highway Patrol Group (HPG) personnel, alleging the police officers extorted P35,000 from him to release his impounded car.
The implicated cops included a police executive master sergeant, a police senior master sergeant, a police corporal and a patrolman, all assigned to a mobile patrol unit of the HPG National Capital Region, Napolcom noted in a statement on Tuesday.
Citing the TNVS driver’s affidavit, the commission said the victim was flagged down by the HPG personnel for supposedly having a defective brake light on the morning of April 29 along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue near GMA-Kamuning Station.
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He was then brought to an HPG outpost along Mindanao Avenue Extension in Caloocan City and told that the vehicle would be impounded “due to allegedly expired documents” and that he needed to submit requirements from his financing company to have his car released.
“However, in the days that followed, while [the victim] was processing the required documents, [the police corporal] allegedly suggested that the release of the impounded vehicle could be expedited in exchange for P50,000. The amount was later allegedly reduced to P35,000 after negotiations,” Napolcom explained.
“The complainant claimed that he attempted to negotiate for a lower amount and proposed alternative payment arrangements, but the respondents allegedly insisted on a cash payment of P35,000.00 and refused any other form of settlement,” it added.
The commission assured that it was now taking the appropriate actions with the case. /mr
