SEVEN policemen from the Manila Police District – Station 5 were arrested by their colleagues from the National Capital Region Office-Intelligence Division (NCRPO-ID) right inside the police station they are assigned, after they allegedly extorted the family of a man they arrested without charges.
The said policemen were identified as PLt. Ariel Erlano Codon, Deputy Chief of the said police station; PSSG Philip Salazar Lizardo, Drug Enforcement Unit Investigator and members of the station’s anti-drug operatives namely, PSSG Ronie Boy Matutina Alonzo, PSSG Mark Oliver Gapate Amigable, Pat. John Michael Vizcarra Sobrevilla, Pat. Drex Pating Bato a and Pat. Bryan Tañafranca Gomez.
Investigation showed that their arrest came following their arrest of a man on June 20, 2025 on allegations of involvement in illegal drugs.
The man’s wife claimed that the cops demanded P50,000 for his release and that after some haggling, the price went down to P20,000.
After sending the said amount through GCash, the woman said her husband was released after being detained without any charges being filed against him.
Later, the wife went to the MPD-PS5 to complain and demanded for the return of her money. When the cops learned about what she did, the woman alleged that they began harassing and threatening her.
Owing to this, the woman said she and her husband went straight to the office of the NCRPO Director and sought help.
Based on the complaint, an operation was conducted and the seven policemen were nabbed at the MPD-Station 5.
They were charged before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office with robbery-extortion, grave threat, arbitrary detention, violation of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and PD 1829 or obstruction of justice.
