MUNICIPAL ENGINEER NABBED FOR ALLEGED EXTORTION

BY KEVIN GALANG

OPERATIVES of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Regional Field Unit 3 arrested in an entrapment operation a 65-year-old municipal engineer after allegedly demanding P50,000 from a warehouse owner and threatening to have the latter’s establishment closed in San Simon, Pampanga.

The suspect, a resident of the town, was caught inside the San Simon Municipal Hall.

The entrapment stemmed from an extortion complaint filed by a 43-year-old resident of Bgy. Sta. Monica, San Simon municipality.

According to the police report, the suspect allegedly demanded P50,000 from the complainant and threatened to have his warehouse closed if he failed to pay the amount.

The joint entrapment operation was led by the CIDG RFU 3 Regional Special Operations Team (RSOT), with the participation of the Pampanga Provincial Field Unit, San Simon Municipal Police Station, Regional Special Operations Group of Police Regional Office 3, and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Region 3.

Confiscated were the marked and boodle money, an acknowledgment receipt, the suspect’s identification card, and a mobile phone.

The arrested suspect was brought to the CIDG RFU 3 office facing charges for alleged violations of Article 294 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.