Court worker nabbed for 'extortion' charged

CEBU - Criminal charges were filed against a male court employee who was caught in an entrapment operation for alleged extortion using a fake search warrant.

Arvin Oca has been charged with estafa before the Regional Trial Court yesterday after Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Cynthia Maturan of the Office of the Ombudsman found sufficient grounds to hold the accused for trial.

Earlier, the National Bureau of Investigation has filed charges for robbery extortion and violation of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees against Oca before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas. Oca, in an interview with reporters, said he will post bail today in the amount of P40,000.

Regional Trial Court judge Enriquieta Belarmino, on the other hand, has asked the NBI to conduct a more in-depth investigation into the matter because she believes that Oca was not doing it alone.

Belarmino was fuming mad upon learning that his name was dropped by Oca in his alleged extortion activity. She said she is gathering all necessary evidence for the filing of an administrative complaint against Oca before the Office of the Court Administrator. “I believe he cannot do it single-handedly,” Belarmino said.

RTC executive judge Fortunato De Gracia likewise believes Oca may have cohorts in carrying out the crime.

De Gracia said that an investigation should be conducted by the court administrator and should not only limit to the taking of the money. “Maayo na nga napublikar kay daghan pa siguro kaayo nga mga korte nga gibaligya,” he said.

Describing the arrest of Oca as “unflattering to the judiciary,” de Gracia admitted that these shenanigans among court employees are very hard to curb except when there are complainants.

Oca was arrested last Thursday afternoon outside the Palace of Justice compound after taking P150,000 he demanded from Edmar Garciso by using a fake application for search warrant allegedly by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency against Garciso.

Oca made Garciso believe that he is subject of the application for search warrant for possession and selling illegal drugs that is pending approval by Belarmino. After convincing Garciso, Oca then offered to intervene for a fee. — Fred P. Languido and Jasmin R. Uy/WAB (THE FREEMAN)