Bogus CH worker arrested for extortion

CEBU, Philippines - A woman who pretended to be an employee of the Cebu City government was arrested Thursday for asking money from business owners as supposed penalty for lack of documents for their permits.

Senior Inspector Regino Maramag Jr., acting chief of the Mambaling Police Station, said the strategy of Niña Ramirez’s was to go to business establishments and present herself as a business inspector of City Hall. She would also wear an ID similar to that of a city government employee.

She would then tell the owners that they lack documents for their business permits and would allegedly threaten that their businesses would be closed if they would not pay the P1,500 penalty.

Gardson Masiona, 44, who sells chicken in Barangay Cogon-Pardo, was able to pay the supposed fine but Apple Jane Taboada, 44, owner of a bakery in Barangay San Nicolas, got suspicious and sought the help of police. She reportedly remembered that her friend was victimized by the same modus operandi so she did not give the money.

Elements of the Mambaling Police Station proceeded to the area and arrested Ramirez after confirming that she is not an employee of the city government.

Confiscated from Ramirez were fake ID’s, three business permits of three establishments, and a certificate from the Cebu City government and Natural Resources Office.

Maramag said Ramirez admitted she is part of a group and she is reportedly given P500 for every P1,500 she and her companions can collect.  Maramag said they are now tracing the mastermind of the group. — Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/JMO (FREEMAN)