RSOG nabs “fake” RSOG team leader for extortion

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
March 19, 2013

CAMP SEC. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) warned the public of unscrupulous individuals posing as policemen as the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) nabbed a former town councilor for introducing himself as RSOG team leader and extorting money from businessmen in Samar province recently.

PRO8 Director Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria made the public pronouncement following the recent arrest of a 51-year old former Sangguniang Bayan member for using the name of RSOG in committing criminal acts.

“The RSOG was activated to conduct police operations against all forms of criminal activities and not to extort money from the people,” Soria said.

Demetrio Bariquit y Simbahon, married, of Brgy. Mancol, San Jorge, Samar faces charges of extortion and usurpation of authority after he was caught extorting money from three businessmen in Catbalogan City.

Bariquit is a former town councilor in San Jorge, Samar and is running for the same position in the May 2013 elections.

The victims claimed that the suspect introduced himself as Inspector Nick and a team leader of the elite RSOG, asked money from them and threatened to arrest them for unknown charges.

The 3 victims reported the extortion activities of the suspect to the real RSOG which conducted an entrapment operation against Bariquit.

On Wednesday afternoon, the victims agreed to meet Bariquit at Petron Gasoline station in Brgy. 3, Catbalogan City and handed money to the suspect, wherein RSOG under Police Inspector Constantino Jabonete, Jr., immediately arrested him.

Recovered from the possession of suspect were three expired Mission Orders (MO) from the Military Intelligence Group 8 (MIG8), identification cards of CIDG and Police Hotline Movement, Inc., CIDG coordination form, an arrest warrant for Rape, a Suzuki motorcycle and the P1000.00 cash which he took from the victims.

Subject, with the marked money, was immediately brought to Samar Provincial Crime Laboratory Office in Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City for ultraviolet examination and is currently detained at Catbalogan police station lock-up cell.