NBI nabs Register of Deeds lawyer for extortion in Mandaue City
CEBU CITY – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Central Visayas (Region 7) has arrested a lawyer working at the Register of Deeds in Mandaue City for allegedly extorting money from a land owner.
Atty. Reynaldo Mayol was arrested in an entrapment operation conducted inside his office on Nov. 25.
Atty. Renan Oliva, director of the NBI-Central Visayas, said the entrapment operation stemmed from the complaint of Manuel Dy Jr.
Oliva said Dy sought the help of the NBI 7 on Nov. 16 after Mayol allegedly demanded P150,000 when he transacted at the Register of Deeds at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
“Mr. Dy claimed that he felt insulted and betrayed by the action of Atty. Mayol because the latter won’t act on any transaction in his official capacity as Register of Deeds without any monetary consideration,” said Oliva in a media briefing on Monday, Nov. 28.
According to Oliva, Dy said that he had a Certificate of Finality of a favorable judgment from the Branch 18 of the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City and that he had paid P100,000 for the annotation of a prior Certificate of Title.
Dy told the NBI-7 that he requested for annotation of another Certificate of Title when Mayol allegedly demanded another P150,000 for the second annotation.
Dy said Mayol suggested that he will not merely do an annotation on the second title but will also issue a new title in exchange for the amount.
Dy decided to seek help from the NBI-7 when Mayol allegedly continued to demand P150,000 for the new title to be released.
Mayol denied receiving money during the arrest. “That’s his right (to deny). But the result of the examination speaks for itself. He was positive for fluorescent powder. The examination would show that he received the marked money,” Oliva said.
Mayol underwent inquest proceedings on Monday before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas where he opted that information be filed against him so he could post bail, said Oliva.
Mayol was charged for direct bribery. He was also charged administratively for violation of the Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees, Oliva said.