Man poses as inspector, nabbed for extortion

CEBU, Philippines — An alleged former Cebu City Hall worker was nabbed by the authorities after having been reported extorting a business establishment Thursday morning.

Police Major Elisandro Quijano, Abellana Police Station chief, identified the suspect as a certain Arante Aranas. Based on his identification card, he worked as an inspector at the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office.

His ID, however, appeared to have been signed by the former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Upon his arrest, Quijano said that they have discovered that Aranas was previously detained for usurpation of authority last October 2018. Aside from this, Quijano said that he has also a pending warrant of arrest for another similar case.

With this, Quijano said that Aranas will be now facing three counts of the same case.

“Tindahan didto dapit sa Ramos, naabtan ni siya didto... mao ra gihapon mangayo siya og amount regarding sa permit sa tindahan. Mao ra gihapon sa iyang style,” Quijano said, referring to the method of Aranas’ extortion.

“Iya i-inform nga naay violation unya i-settle niya,” he added.

According to Quijano, Aranas’ latest victim, who is now in Lapu-Lapu City, is determined to file the case against him.

Furthermore, Quijano said that they cannot confirm yet if the ID used by Aranas was a fake one; thus, this led them to allege that he was a former City Hall worker.

“Ang iyang ID murag legitimate.  Dugay naman ni iyang ID sa panahon pa ni Mayor Osmeña..wala man guy expiry date iya ID,” Quijano said.

He, however, added that the mere fact that Osmeña is no longer the sitting mayor,  the ID could possibly be an expired one.

This will be subject for further validation also, Quijano said.

At present, the suspect is detained at Abellana Police Station.  KQD (FREEMAN)