BACOLOD CITY - A woman who allegedly pretended to be a lawyer to extort money from an LGBT member was arrested during an entrapment operation in Barangay Sum-ag here on Thursday, Nov. 3.
Capt. Rondyl Tapang, head of Police Station 9, identified the suspect as Jonelly Lacson, 41, of Barangay Sum-ag.
The suspect is a member of the National Anti-Crime & Community-Service Group Organization (NACGO) Force Multiplier.
Tapang said that Lacson met the victim at a salon, where the latter is working.
In July, Lacson allegedly initially asked for P5,000 from the victim to help the latter's boyfriend to be released from jail after he was arrested for a drug offense.
However, the victim only gave the suspect P1,000, until they had a series of conversations on social media.
Tapang said that it was in October when the suspect allegedly demanded from the victim P30,000 to fast track the release of her boyfriend.
The suspect even mentioned some names to make the victim believe that she is really a lawyer, Tapang said.
This prompted the victim to ask for police assistance.
Tapang said that the victim’s boyfriend was already convicted in jail even before the suspect offered to help her.
Following Lacson’s arrest, Tapang said that three persons surfaced at the police station on Friday, claiming that they were also victimized by her.
Lacson will be charged for estafa, coercion, extortion, and usurpation of official function, Tapang said.