Klasmit Boyet describes arrest as kidnapping

CEBU, Philippines - Local media practitioner and candidate for Cebu governor last elections, Roliveth “Klasmit Boyet” Cortes, has described his arrest as kidnapping.

Cortes said that he and Dr. Cecilia Lucentales were just picked up by unidentified persons while having dinner at a condominium in Pasay City last July 19 without informing them of their violations.

He said the complainant was not even present during the entrapment operation not until the complaints for estafa and usurpation of authority were filed before the prosecutor’s office.

“Gibutangbutangan mi. Ako pagsabot I was kidnapped,” Cortes said.

In a press conference yesterday, Cortes’ counsel, former Maguindanao congressman Didagen Dilangalen, said the prosecution panel did not even present evidence of the P50,000 allegedly demanded by Lucentales.

Dilangalen told reporters that charges of simple estafa and usurpation of authority were filed against Cortes and Lucentales who were released after posting bail of undisclosed amount.

Dilangalen said he is confident his friend, Cortes, and Lucentales would be cleared from these charges.

Cortes narrated that while having dinner, two unidentified men approached and handed over a folder with a small brown envelop to Lucentales.

When Lucentales accepted it, a man took pictures of them and they were arrested and were asked to ride the van waiting outside.

Out of shock, Cortes said he made a commotion so other people could notice what was happening.

“Dili nato abusaran ang atong katungdanan,” warned Cortes adding that if it happened to him, how much more on ordinary citizens.

Dilangalen also said that another lawyer of Cortes was not allowed to talk to the latter the night when they were arrested.

He said that even he himself was not entertained by any police official when he visited Cortes and Lucentales the following day.

Cortes and Lucentales were arrested by the Bureau of Customs Police Rapid Intervention Group (CPRIG) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for allegedly trying to recruit employees to work for the bureau allegedly in exchange for money.

Lucentales, 62, and Cortes, 52, were nabbed in an entrapment operation at the Alen Building along Gil Puyat Avenue in Pasay City.

Major Jaybee Raul Cometa, the CPRIG commander, said customs police and CIDG agents conducted an entrapment operation after they received a complaint from Federico R. Santos who said he was lured by Lucentales to work at the BOC.

The complainant said Lucentales asked for P50,000 from him in exchange for the position of a district collector in the bureau.

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

She strongly supported the September 26 Run Duterte Movement as chairman and president of Save the Entire Philippines Organization (SEPO) where Cortes is also the area executive director for Visayas. (FREEMAN)