KAMPO HENERAL PACIANO RIZAL, Sta. Cruz, Laguna – Eight persons posing as media practitioners to extort money from a funfair owner were arrested in Calamba City, this province, Monday, July 18.
Police Col. Cecilio R. Ison Jr., Laguna police provincial director, identified the suspects as Anne Cortez, 32; Eric Florez Floro, 32; Rose Marie Malazarte, 53; Benjamin Olino Javier Jr., 60; Theresa dela Cruz Regaza, 27; Christopher Angeles Yu; Efren dela Cruz Regaza, 22; and Rodamy Llamazares Prado, 27.
The Calamba City Police Station said the victim, Jinggoy Cahanap, 34, was in a checkpoint in Calamba City at 1:30 a.m. when the suspects onboard a Toyota Tamaraw FX approached him and identified themselves as media men.
The suspects demanded P8,000 weekly protection money and threatened the victim that his funfair will be closed if he does not comply with their demand.
Cahanap said he could give only P2,000, causing a disagreement between them. This prompted the victim to seek police assistance leading to the arrest of the suspects.
Recovered from the suspects were several fictitious identification cards and suspected extortion money.
Police also found out that the suspects are the same persons reporting false information through E-sumbong and PNP Info Text that dragged the name of the Calamba City chief of police.
“We will investigate this matter. This is a rising concern which we must address to halt the modus operandi of these persons who are patrolling around funfair business establishments to extort money in exchange for the continuity of the business operations," Ison said.