POLICE arrested Thursday night a woman who allegedly extorted money from the husband of a detained drug suspect in Marikina City.
Police said operatives of Marikina City Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) and Intelligence Unit launched an entrapment operation inside a fast food restaurant on J.P. Rizal Street against the suspect identified as Sharon Barnuevo, 42, a resident of Barangay Sto. Niño, Marikina City, at about 6:30 p.m..
Barnuevo was apprehended based on the complaint of Paul Valderas, 47, a resident of Barangay Calumpang, Marikina City.
Authorities said that last Oct. 3, Valderas’ wife was arrested by Marikina City SDEU operatives in an anti-illegal drug operation.
While visiting his wife at the Marikina City Police Station, the suspect suddenly approached Valderas and informed him that she was capable of lowering criminal offenses filed against an accused.
Valderas said Barnuevo demanded R60,000 in exchange for the liberty of his wife, who is facing raps for selling and possession of illegal drugs.
On Thursday, Valderas saw a group of policemen at the police station when he came again to visit his wife. He approached SDEU chief Inspector Greco Gonzales and asked about the supposed “help” offered by the suspect.
Gonzales clarified to Valderas that no one has the capability to do such thing.
Police officers then asked Valderas to cooperate with them to capture the suspect in an an entrapment later that day.
After the suspect’s arrest, police recovered from her R30,000 cash which was supposedly the first tranche of the complainant’s payment, two R1,000 marked money, and two cellular phones.
Barnuevo is now detained at Marikina City police detention cell, facing extortion charges. (Hanah Tabios)