Man claims CIDG link, nabbed after extortion try

CEBU, Philippines- A man who claimed to be an organic member of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 was arrested during an entrapment operation after he threatened a computer technician of arresting him if the latter will not give him money.

Ferdinand Purino, 46, single, of Abella Compound, Sitio San Roque, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City was arrested by the operatives of the Canduman Police Station during last Sunday noon near a gas station in Barangay Cubacub.

The entrapment was conducted against Purino after Nathaniel Ibarita, 29, a computer technician from whom the suspect earlier allegedly extorted money complained Purino for accusing him of selling illegal drugs and improvised guns.

Senior Police Officer 1 Tiurso Plania of the Canduman Police said that according to the victim, the suspect first came to the computer shop of the victim on July 29 and showed him of his fake ID and badge and identified himself as an organic member of the CIDG-7.

The suspect told the victim that he supposedly received reports that the victim was engaged in the selling of illegal drugs and guns and that most of the transactions occurred in his shop. The suspect further alleged that most of the illegal drugs were hidden inside the laptops that are subject for repair.

His accusations had been vehemently denied by the victim during their encounter. Not satisfied, the suspect then inspected all the laptops and CPUs inside the victim's shop.

"Una kay negative man sa dihang iyang gipanan-aw ang mga ayuhunon nga laptop ug CPU sa biktima. Iya nuon giingnan nga 'swerte kaayo kay nga wa ka nako maatli ug naa kay amigo nga suod pud nako.' Unya nangayo siya og laptop, hard disk ug usa ka libo ka pesos gikan sa biktima, ug gi-ingnan lang sad sa biktima nga 'hatagi ko sa imong cell number ug mo-text ra ko kun naa na koy kwarta,'" said Plania.

However, the suspect continued to extort money from the victim from July 30 up to August 1 and when he failed to reply to his text, the suspect once again visited his computer shop and confronted him angrily.

"Nangayo pa man gani to og para pleti sa habal-habal, apan wa gyud hatagi gihapon sa biktima kay wa lagi siya'y kwarta," Plania added.

Because he was already risking his life as the suspect was so mad at him, he then promised him P1,000 and told him that they meet at the gas station in Cubacub on Sunday morning. This prompted the suspect to leave the victim's place.

The victim then immediately reported the incident to the Canduman Police last Saturday.