Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim on Wednesday met with Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina, head of the National Capital Region Office (NCRPO), to refer the case of a ba-rangay chairman who was fleeced and then planted with drugs allegedly by a group of policemen assigned at the Quezon City.

During their meeting held at the mayor’s office, Lim presented to Espina the complainant identified as Eduardo Torcelino, 56, chairman of Barangay 711 in Leveriza, Malate, Manila.

Lim, himself, briefed Espina on the nature of the case and expressed belief that Espina will not condone such illicit acts by men in uniform.

“I expected this to be a very serious allegation, considering that Lim is the one who set this meeting,” Espina said.

Espina assured the victim that he will personally handle the case and that the cops involved will readily be put under preventive suspension to ensure that they do not influence the case or intimidate the complainant.

Torcelino said that on October 5, he and his companion, businessman Hermenigildo Patdu, 59, of Muntin-lupa City, have just come from Sta. Rosa, Laguna when they dropped by at a food outlet on E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City to eat.

The two were on their way to the parking lot when a group of men who introduced themselves as policemen arrested them for unclear reasons and took their money amounting to P170,000.

Torcelino said that the lawmen led by PO2 William Blanco and PO3 Wilbert Blanco of the station anti-illegal drugs-special operations task force as arresting officers, then brought them to the Galas Police Station 11 where they were charged with possession of 15 grams of shabu, which they vehemently denied.

Torcelino showed a copy of a resolution issued by Quezon City Assistant City Prosecutor Alessandro Jurado releasing them for further investigation.