Fake cop nabbed in Bacolod extortion entrapment

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A 38-year-old man from Koronadal City, South Cotabato, was arrested in an entrapment operation on Saturday outside an inn at the Goldenfield Commercial Complex in Barangay Singcang-Airport for alleged robbery-extortion and usurpation of authority.

Police identified the suspect as “John,” who had been introducing himself as “Police Major Calsado” to extort money from victims, according to a report from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).

Police Lt. Col. Antonio Benitez Jr., chief of the City Intelligence Unit (CIU), said in a media interview that the operation stemmed from multiple complaints against the suspect for falsely presenting himself as a police officer.

Authorities recovered PHP 3,000 in marked money, PHP 18,000 in boodle money, a sedan, and a cellphone during the arrest.

Benitez said the suspect had been under surveillance since September after he allegedly began extorting money from victims.

The suspect’s modus involved threatening individuals with fabricated buy-bust operations unless they paid him off.

He also monitored live media reports on anti-drug operations to identify potential victims.

According to police, the suspect contacted families of drug suspects and offered to help with their cases in exchange for cash.

One complainant claimed the suspect extorted money 16 times, losing a total of PHP 700,000.

Benitez encouraged other victims to come forward to support the filing of additional charges.

The suspect attempted to flee during the entrapment operation but was subdued. He was acting alone at the time of his arrest, Benitez added.

The CIU was assisted by the Regional Intelligence Unit–Negros Island Region (RIU-NIR), Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG)-NIR, City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), and Bacolod City Police Station 8.

In a statement, the BCPO reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the public from individuals who misuse law enforcement identities and vowed to hold violators accountable.