Tarlac judge arrested for extort

PANIQUI, Tarlac — Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a Municipal Trial Court judge here last Tuesday after allegedly accepting marked bribe money from a daughter of a former Tarlac mayor.

Lawyer Florencio Binalay, head of the NBI provincial office, said criminal charges of direct extortion and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act have been filed against Judge Arnel Peralta.

This town’s mayor, Elpidio Ibarra, said the NBI laid out the entrapment after Dr. Luz Imelda Macaraeg, daughter of former Moncada mayor Wilfredo Macaraeg, sought his help when the judge allegedly demanded P10,000 from her.

Ibarra said Peralta’s demand to Macaraeg was coursed through one Jaime Cuchapin, supposedly in exchange for the judge’s decision in her favor in a slander case pending before his sala.

Upon receiving word from Ibarra, Binalay said he promptly organized an arresting team and prepared 10 P1,000 bills laced with ultraviolet powder.

At about 4:30 p.m. last Tuesday, Macaraeg brought the marked money to Peralta who personally accepted it. NBI agents then barged into Peralta’s office and arrested him.

Binalay said test showed the judge, indeed, touched the money.

Peralta has posted P10,000 bail for his temporary liberty.