Ex-Customs exec arrested for extortion try

MANILA, Philippines — A former deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and a broker have been apprehended in Quezon City for allegedly attempting to extort P500,000 from an importer of gun parts.

Roberto Geotina and Nancy Nuguid were arrested by agents of the BOC Intelligence Group and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in an entrapment operation in a restaurant along Timog Avenue on May 22. 

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service director Jeoffrey Tacio said Geotina and Nuguid pretended to be Customs officers.

Tacio said the suspects tried to extort money from Shacka Guns and Ammo, which imports gun parts.

On May 20, Tacio said the BOC received a complaint from the company that the suspects demanded money in exchange for the release of the shipments of gun parts.

The BOC coordinated with NBI Special Action Unit chief Emeterio Dongallo Jr. and conducted the operation against the suspects.

Charges of estafa, robbery and extortion will be filed against the suspects, Dongallo said.

Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said they would conduct an investigation to determine if other personalities connived with the suspects in their extortion racket.

“We will not tolerate extortion and corruption in the bureau,” Guerrero said.