Ombudsman suspends employee for extortion

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has issued a preventive suspension order against one of its own personnel, who is facing robbery and graft charges for allegedly extorting money from another government employee.

Antonio Alibio, a process server at the Office of the Special Prosecutor, was allegedly caught in the act of extorting money from Daniel Cariaga two weeks ago. Alibio’s job requires him to deliver documents and other items to concerned parties.

In a four-page order dated Feb. 1, Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard Mosquera, chairman of the Internal Affairs Board, placed him under preventive suspension for six months without pay.

He also faces charges of robbery-extortion, graft, grave misconduct and serious dishonesty charges for the alleged extortion attempt. 

The ruling was made after the Office of the Ombudsman found that “the evidence of guilt is strong and (considering) that the charge involves dishonesty and grave misconduct or one that would warrant removal from the service.” 

According to the ruling, Cariaga alleged that Alibio demanded P150,000 and threatened to initiate a case against him with the Office of the Ombudsman for his reported involvement in a gun-toting incident on Dec. 29, 2012.

In an entrapment conducted on Jan. 31 in Bacoor, Cavite by National Bureau of Investigation agents, Alibio was caught receiving marked money from Cariaga.