Bogus TV reporter nabbed for extortion

A fake television reporter was arrested by the police in an entrapment operation while in the act of extorting "protection" money from a carnival operator in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Saturday.

Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula identified the suspect as Armand Suzara, 38, married, of 24 Sixto Avenue, Pasig City. Recovered from Suzara was the marked money, amounting to P1,100, used in the entrapment operation.

Sapitula said he recognized Suzara as a frequent visitor to the police station, introducing himself as a field reporter of ABS-CBN and liaison officer of TV host/columnist Mon Tulfo.

Last Saturday, the operator of a carnival along Porvenir street in Sta. Cruz sought police assistance against the alleged mulcting activities of Suzara. The complainant said Suzara has been forcibly demanding P1,100 from her as weekly protection money for the continued operation of her business.

Sapitula then tasked Station Reaction Unit chief Inspector John Guiagui to verify the alleged extortion complaint and conduct an entrapment operation.

Suzara was arrested by the police after he was seen receiving the marked money from the carnival operator.

During interrogation, the suspect admitted that he is not a reporter and not connected with Tulfo. Verification also showed that Suzara is not an ABS-CBN employee.

Police records showed that Suzara is also the subject of a similar complaint from a carnival operator in Quiapo last April 5.