Laguna municipal assessor nabbed for extortion

LAGUNA, Philippines – Police arrested the municipal assessor of Kalayaan town for extortion in an entrapment operation in Sta. Cruz yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Pascual Muñoz, Laguna police director, said the suspect, Melissa Madrazo, 49, faces charges of robbery-extortion and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Madrazo’s arrest stemmed from the complaint of 70-year-old Adelaida Acupan, of Barangay San Mateo, Rizal, that Madrazo had allegedly demanded P5,000 in exchange for the release of her land title transfer.

Acupan sought police assistance, prompting Superintendent Kirby John Kraft, provincial intelligence division chief, to set up an entrapment against Madrazo at a fast food outlet in Sta. Cruz.

Kraft said police undercover agents accosted Madrazo while receiving the P5,000 in marked money from Acupan.