“Klasmit Boyet” denies charges

CEBU, Philippines - A former local broadcaster who was arrested for extortion and usurpation of authority in Manila has denied the charges against him.

Roliveth “Klasmit Boyet” Cortes said he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time when the entrapment operation happened.

Cortes said he was sitting close to his companion, Cecilia Lucentales, when the operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Intelligence Unit of the Philippine National Police, and the Bureau of Customs during the entrapment.

“Ang ako kahimtang murag nagtan-aw og sabong nga naapil sa dakop,” he told The Freeman.

Cortes said he and Lucentales are not involved in any illegal activities nor misrepresenting any government agencies in exchange for money contrary to the accusations.

“Ang mga friends from all over the country nagbaha ang suporta diri sa amoa. Please tell our friends that we are well and in high spirits,” Cortes said.

Cortes said Lucentales is a respected professional running an alternative medical center in Pasay City. She is also a successful businesswoman and a well-known philanthropist.

She strongly supported the Run Duterte Movement as chairman and president of Save the Entire Philippines Organization (SEPO) where Cortes is also the area executive director for Visayas.

Cortes and Lucentales were arrested Wednesday for allegedly misrepresenting as agents of the Bureau of Customs and demanded P50,000 in exchange for a position in the agency. —/FPL (FREEMAN)