CEBU CITY – “Kumander Malik”, a bogus New People’s Army (NPA) commander, is now languishing in jail after he tried to extort money from a restaurant owner in Cotabato City.
Benigno Table, 37, who posed as an NPA commander, was nabbed in an entrapment operation in Barangay Capitol Site here, according to Police Staff Sgt. Ronelle Jay Ocariza of the Philippine National Police-Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit-Central Visayas (RACU Region 7).
Ocariza said Junailra Evangelista, the owner of the restaurant, complained that she had been receiving text messages from a man who identified himself as an NPA commander.
The texter threatened to bomb her restaurant if she won’t give him P30,000. Evangelista sought police assistance when the threats persisted.
Police set up an entrapment operation and the suspect was arrested after he withdrew the amount from a money remittance service.
Ocariza said they were able to intercept the suspect through their counterpart in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BAR).
“Our counterpart from RACU-BAR coordinated with us after they learned that the person behind the extortion attempt is from Cebu,” said Ocariza.
“We are still investigating how the suspect was able to reach the complainant when she is from Cotabato, but it was possible that the victim was just selected randomly,” said Ocariza.
Ocariza said further investigation will be made to find out if the man had cohorts after he claimed that he was just instructed by someone to withdraw the money.
Ocariza said such ploy of duping people is common.
“The usual victims are businessmen and professionals. We encourage the public to take this kind of illegal activity seriously especially if there are threats involved. Report to the nearest police so that immediate action can be taken,” said Ocariza.
