Funeral parlor manager held for P.3 million extortion

MANILA, Philippines – A funeral parlor manager and his secretary were arrested yesterday afternoon for allegedly demanding P350,000 in order to release a man’s body to his relatives.

Funeraria Cruz operations manager Rolando Morado, 54, and secretary May Manahan, 49, were caught in the act of counting the P350,000 Mirasol Sacopaso paid them to release the body of her son, Marvin, a bargeman who drowned when he fell from his ship while it was docked at the San Juan River on Wednesday.

Morado demanded P110,000 for their service, P90,000 for embalming, P100,000 to reconstruct Marvin’s face as well as other miscellaneous fees. Mirasol, who said her son’s face was unscathed, went to the Manila Police District to file a complaint.

The suspects were charged with robbery-extortion.