Ex-City Hall employee arrested for extortion

CEBU, Philippines - A former Cebu City Hall employee was arrested by the Carbon police midday yesterday for allegedly extorting money from the owner of an eatery along Sanciangko Street, Barangay Kalubihan.

The operation against Arante Aranas, 42, of T. Padilla Street, was hatched after Baby Redelosa, owner of Kara’s Chicken, reported his alleged extortion activities to the police.

Police Officer 2 Mario Nator said Redelosa called the police station and reported that Aranas was at her store again. It was PO2 Joel Perolina, who went to the store and arrested Aranas.

At the police station, several items were recovered from Aranas, including a small pack of suspected shabu, several documents and two identification cards with his picture but bearing different names.

Redelosa said Aranas went to her store last Tuesday afternoon and introduced himself as an employee of the Cebu City government. He then told her he would process the renewal of her sanitary permits on her behalf.

Redelosa said she already knew that Aranas was a fake because her friend who is also in the food business had told her the suspect would use different names to extort money. Still, Redelosa reportedly decided to ride on because she wanted to get proof.

“Naa na ko’y idea nga mangingilad siya pero gisak-yan ra gyud nako siya,” Redelosa told The FREEMAN.

She reportedly allowed Aranas to facilitate the renewal of her sanitary permits. Aranas then asked for photocopies of her existing sanitary permits and even asked for P1,500. Redelosa said she made Aranas sign a receipt of payment.

When Aranas returned to her store the following day, Wednesday, Redelosa alerted the police, hence the arrest.

Aranas admitted facilitating the sanitary permit but denied extorting from Redelosa.

“Siya niduol nako para mo-process sa iyang permit. Di man unta ko pero gihangyo man ko niya,” he said.

Aranas said he started as a volunteer at the City Hall in 2013 and eventually became a job-order employee. He reportedly worked at the City Environment and Natural Resources Officer  but left on April 2014 due to financial reasons.

“Nihawa na ko kay way suweldo,” he said, admitting that he did not surrender his identification card. He was also using the identification card of a former colleague who is also no longer connected with the city government.

Aranas will be facing charges for extortion, falsification of documents, and for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. –(FREEMAN)