By Mike Crismundo
CAMP COL RAFAEL C. RODRIGUES, Butuan City -- A suspect for robbery-extortion activities in the area of Agusan del Norte town, who has also been victimizing beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), fell into the hands of Caraga police and the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion (23rd IB) in an entrapment operation conducted on Sunday, April 26, police official reported on Tuesday.
Caraga Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) Regional Director Brig. Gen. Joselito T. Esquivel, Jr. said the suspect, whose identity was temporarily withheld pending the arrest of his cohorts, was a former rebel beneficiary under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP of the 65th IB in Mambu-aya, Cagayan De Oro City.
The operation was launched after the Buenavista Municipal Police Station (MPS) of Agusan del Norte Provincial Police Office received complaints from local residents, who are 4Ps beneficiaries of Barangay Malapong, Buenavista, that the suspect had been extorting money from them since March.
Personnel from Buenavista MPS coordinated with 23rd IB, which resulted in the identification of the suspect who happened to be under the surveillance of AFP counterpart for the same complaint.
The entrapment operation was conducted at a place set by the suspect beside the Ocean Bloom Beach Resort located in Purok 3-B Barangay Manapa, also of Buenavista town, around one kilometer away from his residence.
The suspect was arrested around 5:45 p.m. on Sunday after receiving the two P1,000-bill as marked money.
Investigation conducted by Buenavista MPS revealed that the suspect was using random names and had been extorting money from his victims, asking for P2,000 a month, and threatening to kill them and their family if they will fail to do so.
The victims claimed that there were other victims in their locality who did not report the incident due to fear.
Esquivel said the suspect is now facing charges for violation of Article 293 Section 1 of the Revised Penal Code or Robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons.
“We expect to receive more complaints from other victims of the suspect since he is now put under the custody of the PNP as investigation is still ongoing,” he said.
“I encourage all the robbery-extortion victims in Agusan del Norte province and other areas to cooperate with Buenavista MPS and local police for filing of additional complaints against the suspect and also arrest other extortionists,” said Esquivel added.