August 15, 2000, The Philippine Star, QC probes extortion of nightclub owners, by Romel Bagares,

August 15, 2000, The Philippine Star, QC probes extortion of nightclub owners, by Romel Bagares,

Quezon City authorities are investigating Chief Inspector Rodolfo Hernandez, city hall detachment chief, for his alleged involvement in an extortion ring preying on nightclubs, a source said yesterday.

Efforts by The STAR to reach Hernandez at his office yesterday for his side on the issue proved futile. His staff said he was out of his office all day as he was attending to an urgent business in Manila.

Nightclub owner George Bueno accused Hernandez earlier of collecting from each club owners of P1,500 a week. He said the money is deposited in an automated teller machine (ATM) with the Bank of the Philippine Islands under the name of a certain Wilson Mendoza, a traffic enforcer detailed as the police officer's driver.

A source in Camp Karingal said the District Inspectoral and Legal Office will handle the investigation on the case.

Bueno made the allegation after his nightclubs -- Lanai Disco and Blueyes -- were raided by the police officer's men.

Bueno's subordinate, Larry Cervantes, said the police officer brought to the detachment two of their guest relations officers (GRO), threatening to charge them in account if the club management refuses to shell out more protection money.

He did not say how much the officer allegedly demanded from him.

Cervantes said all the GROs in the two nightclubs have proper working permits issued by city hall. The city's Business Permit and Licensing Office is set to meet with nightclub owners today to investigate Bueno's charges.

Last year, a similar controversy broke out when top officials of the Central Police District were accused of running a protection racket.