A man was arrested the other day by the National Bureau of Investigation for allegedly acting as an NBI agent and trying to extort money from a spa operator.
Aircon technician Antonio Vargas, who allegedly misrepresented himself as an NBI agent, was arrested Monday afternoon inside his shop at D. Jakosalem Street after receiving P13,000 which he allegedly demanded from Hedelysa Echavez of Spa Cebu.
Echavez sought the NBI’s help after Vargas, claiming to be an agent, allegedly went to her establishment in Banilad last Monday morning and forcibly took the integrated circuit boards of her two airconditioning units.
Echavez said that Vargas intimidated her workers and vowed that he will only return the spare parts if she will pay. Vargas was allegedly demanding P15,000.
An entrapment operation was planned; Echavez together with real NBI agents went to Vargas’ shop supposedly to give in to the demand. However, when Vargas received the money, agents Bernard de la Cruz and Reynaldo Villordon immediately placed him under arrest.
Villordon and de la Cruz introduced themselves as NBI agents, but the suspect also identified himself as agent and tried to wrestle with Villordon. However, other operatives quickly responded and neutralized Vargas.
Vargas’ daughter, Mary Ann, however, said her father is a legitimate aircon technician. She said that Echavez owes her father for the repair of the two airconditioning units.
According to Mary Ann, Echavez doesn’t want to pay her obligation to her father.
“Kon di siya mobayad, nisulti na lang unta siya og tarong; dili kay iyang ingon ani-on,” Mary Ann told reporters.
Vargas is now facing complaints for two counts of robbery extortion and resisting to lawful arrest before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office. – Fred P. Languido/MEEV