Members of the Navotas City Police Station (NCPS) arrested a man and a woman on Saturday, April 15, after they posed as personnel of a water service provider and tried to extort money from a fish vendor in Navotas City.
NCPS Chief Col. Allan Umipig identified the suspects as Ralph Vincent Bernardo, 37, and Jacqueline Ti, 45, both from Tondo, Manila.
Initial investigation disclosed that on April 2, the suspects who posed as personnel of Maynilad Water Services Inc., went to the house of Gilbert Ramirez, 65, a fish vendor, in Barangay Navotas East, Navotas City. They demanded for the victim to pay P50,000 as penalty for tampering a water meter.
The victim gave them P5,000 as initial payment and suspects promised him that the penalty will be lifted once he paid the remaining balance on April 15.
Ramirez immediately sought help from the NCPS.
Police launched the entrapment operation against Bernardo in a fast food chain in Brgy. NBBS Proper Navotas City at around 4:50 p.m. on Saturday.
The operatives arrested the suspect after Ramirez handed over to him P5,000 and 40 pieces of boodle money.
They also conducted a follow-up operation and arrested Ti in Barangay 13, Tondo, Manila.
The suspects will be charged for robbery extortion, police said.