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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Woman arrested 'for extorting P9.9-M from lawyer'

Woman arrested 'for extorting P9.9-M from lawyer'

Published May 5, 2023 08:17 am
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a woman who allegedly extorted P9.9 million from a married lawyer whom she reportedly threatened to reveal their sexual relations to his family. In a statement, the NBI identified the woman as Mariel Cruz Padel who has been charged with robbery (extortion) under Articles 293 and 294 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Republic Act No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. It said that Padel was arrested in a mall in Quezon City last April 26 in an entrapment operation conducted by agents of the NBI’s Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) based on the complaint filed by the lawyer who was not identified in the NBI statement. “The Complainant, a practicing lawyer, narrated that he met Marielle through social media and had a sexual encounter with her,” the NBI said. “Three days after, Marielle told Complainant that she was impregnated by him and demanded money, which the Complainant acceded,” it said. Thereafter, the lawyer said in his complaint that he received a message from a certain “Lyka” who claimed to be the twin sister of the woman. The NBI said that “Lyka” told the lawyer that Marielle died as a result of abortion and blamed the lawyer for the death of her sister. “Lyka demanded money from the Complainant and threatened to ruin his reputation as a family man and as a lawyer,” it said. “Complainant then sent Lyka money multiple times amounting to P9.9 million,” it also said. The NBI said the complaining lawyer “discovered Lyka’s lies and false representations, and that Lyka and Marielle are one and the same person.”  The lawyer sought NBI’s help. “Lyka’s demands for money continued, and on April 26, 2023, she asked for P61,000 as payment to the doctor who performed the abortion to Marielle and for her rental expense,” the NBI said. “Complainant agreed to meet the Subject to hand over the demanded money and informed NBI-AOTCD,” it noted.  The entrapment was executed, it added.

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