Agents of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP-IMEG) arrested on Monday, Nov. 28, a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) for allegedly posing as a policeman to extort money from the relatives of a dead man in Talisay, Batangas,
PNP-IMEG director Brig. Gen, Warren de Leon said the operation stemmed from the complaint that 42-year old Arvin Sumague was demanding money in exchange for protection of gambling activities in a wake in Barangay Banga.
According to the complainant, Sumague identified himself as Police Corporal Edison and talked with them about an order of a police sergeant to collect protection money from them.
The holding of gambling activities in a wake, mostly card games, is a common practice especially in the provinces to raise fund for the burial and other expenses. While this was already prohibited, some barangay officials are forced to allow them due to appeal of the relatives of the dead on the need to raise money.
De Leon said his men immediately conducted an entrapment which resulted in the arrest of Sumague as soon as he received the marked money.
"The arrest was covered by alternative recording device as required by the Supreme Court," said de Leon.
He said the arrested suspect was taken to the Talisay Police Station while investigation is being conducted to verify the claim of Sumague that he was acting on the order of a police sergeant.