ANGELES CITY – Alleged extortion activities targeting foreigners involving illegal drugs are rampant in this city’s red light district in Barangay Balibago, here.
This was stressed by Balibago Barangay Captain Rodelio “Tony” Mamac during the city council regular session on Tuesday as the city police director had been invited to shed light on the alleged illegal activities at Fields Avenue where most of the city’s bars and clubs operate.
“It’s true, its true. Our foreigners are abused by these illegal arrests of some erring cops,” said Mamac, who joined the ruling Lakas party last week. He is also reportedly eyeing the mayoralty post in the presidential elections next year.
Mamac said some city government officials are allegedly involved in the extortion and illegal drugs activities.
At the start of the session, Councilor Willie Rivera said that some policemen and syndicates had been involved in extorting as much as P500,000 each to their victims who are mostly foreigners.
He added that the syndicates’ modus operandi is to let a woman sleep with a foreigner and later, they would plant illegal drugs such as marijuana and shabu in their room.
But Councilor Agapito Del Rosario, an ally of Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno, described Mamac’s statements as “unfair.”
Del Rosario urged Mamac “to name names.” He stressed that the city government and the police had not been remised of their duties to stop prostitution and other crimes at Fields Avenue and other areas in the city.
“It has been documented that we have made arrests. I don’t know about Barangay Balibago (officials),” said Del Rosario, referring to the reported failure of Mamac and other Balibago officials to arrest suspected criminals.
City Police Director Sr. Supt. Pierre Bucsit, for his part, “said they will sack policemen” involved in such extortion and illegal activities.
Bucsit disclosed that Chief Insp. Rene Aspe, Station 4 commander, had been relieved on Tuesday and other top officials of the station. Fields Avenue is under the jurisdiction of Station 4.
Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, for her part, urged Mamac to also name the alleged officials involved in the extortion activities.
“We are all suspects and it must be cleared,” said Cabigting. “They say someone is involved in the council and he or she or they must be identified to clear other members.”
This was stressed by Balibago Barangay Captain Rodelio “Tony” Mamac during the city council regular session on Tuesday as the city police director had been invited to shed light on the alleged illegal activities at Fields Avenue where most of the city’s bars and clubs operate.
“It’s true, its true. Our foreigners are abused by these illegal arrests of some erring cops,” said Mamac, who joined the ruling Lakas party last week. He is also reportedly eyeing the mayoralty post in the presidential elections next year.
Mamac said some city government officials are allegedly involved in the extortion and illegal drugs activities.
At the start of the session, Councilor Willie Rivera said that some policemen and syndicates had been involved in extorting as much as P500,000 each to their victims who are mostly foreigners.
He added that the syndicates’ modus operandi is to let a woman sleep with a foreigner and later, they would plant illegal drugs such as marijuana and shabu in their room.
But Councilor Agapito Del Rosario, an ally of Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno, described Mamac’s statements as “unfair.”
Del Rosario urged Mamac “to name names.” He stressed that the city government and the police had not been remised of their duties to stop prostitution and other crimes at Fields Avenue and other areas in the city.
“It has been documented that we have made arrests. I don’t know about Barangay Balibago (officials),” said Del Rosario, referring to the reported failure of Mamac and other Balibago officials to arrest suspected criminals.
City Police Director Sr. Supt. Pierre Bucsit, for his part, “said they will sack policemen” involved in such extortion and illegal activities.
Bucsit disclosed that Chief Insp. Rene Aspe, Station 4 commander, had been relieved on Tuesday and other top officials of the station. Fields Avenue is under the jurisdiction of Station 4.
Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, for her part, urged Mamac to also name the alleged officials involved in the extortion activities.
“We are all suspects and it must be cleared,” said Cabigting. “They say someone is involved in the council and he or she or they must be identified to clear other members.”
