Fiscal arrested on extort raps

A Manila City prosecutor was arrested last Saturday by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation for allegedly receiving money from a complainant in exchange for the filing of a criminal case in court.

The arrested suspect was identified as Assistant City Prosecutor Constancio Velasco, a resident of E-03 Bahay Caridad 3, Bayani St., Doña Imelda, Quezon City.

According to the NBI, Velasco was arrested following a complaint of oral defamation filed by Lourdes Pe Benito with the NBI’s Anti-Organized Crime Division.

Velasco, according to the NBI, allegedly demanded P5,000 from Benito supposedly in exchange for the filing of a criminal complaint in court. This prompted Benito to seek NBI assistance.

Acting on the complaint, agents of the NBI’s AOCD set-up the entrapment at around 12:30 p.m. last Saturday at a fast food restaurant along Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo.

Velasco arrived and instructed Benito to follow him to another restaurant, the NBI said.

At the second restaurant, Velasco was arrested by the NBI agents shortly after receiving the marked cash.

Velasco is now detained at the NBI jail after charges for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and direct bribery were filed against him with the Department of Justice.

Meanwhile, three suspected holdupmen believed responsible for a series of heists in the Northern Metro Manila area were bagged by police operatives late Sunday night in Malabon City shortly after robbing a taxi driver of his earnings.

City police chief Superintendent Ernesto Fojas Jr., said suspects Renante Dapiluga, 24, of Balete Drive, New Manila; Ronilo Antay, 24, and Winny Gregorio, 26, both of Sitio Mendez Street, Project 8, Quezon City were detained on charges of robbery holdup, illegal possession of firearms and bladed weapons.

The three were positively identified by their victim, Reynaldo Obaña, 34, taxi driver, and resident of 94 Daang Bakal, Meycauayan, Bulacan.

According to PO2 Redentor Mantala, the suspects flagged down the Patricia Mae taxi (TWT 447) driven by Obaña at Muñoz in Quezon City at around 11 p.m. Sunday. The trio instructed Obaña to take them to Letre Road in Tonsuya, Malabon. Upon reaching the corner of P. Aquino Avenue along Letre road, the armed suspects announced the holdup and divested Obaña of his earnings (P700) before fleeing on foot.

The victim later reported the incident to the police after which a follow-up operation was conducted in coordination with barangay watchmen of Longos, Malabon led by executive officer Ben Santos.

Seized from the suspects were a .38 revolver and two knives used in the holdup. – Mike Frialde and Jerry Botial