2 linemen, ex-electrician fall over extortion racket

CEBU, Philippines — Two linemen and a former accredited electrician were arrested by the members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Central Visayas during an entrapment operation for alleged extortion in exchange for quick restoration of power supply.

The operation was hatched after the Visayan Electric sent a letter request to the office for an investigation on reports of extortions to prioritize a specific area in power supply restoration after Typhoon Odette.

"Ang iyang (VECO) request for us to investigate on the alleged complaint of criminal activities of their linemen extorting money from their consumers in exchange for priority electrical repairs," said NBI-7 Director Atty. Renan Oliva.

Authorities identified the arrested individuals as Doroteo Valmoria Auxtero Jr., Bryan Burlaos Sacmar, and Maximo Mariot Jr.

Investigation is still ongoing as the authorities, including the VECO officials, believe that there are more modus initiated by the linemen to take advantage of the situation.

The authorities conducted the operation last January 25 at around 3 p.m. in Upper Mohon, Talisay City. The suspects already underwent inquest proceedings a day after.

During investigation, both Auxtero and Sacmar were identified as accredited linemen of one of the contractors of Visayan Electric while Mariot was a former accredited electrician of VECO who forged various IDs to work with the other two suspects on the extortions.

"So these individuals were caught red-handed asking VECO consumers a total amount of P15,000, P10,000 of which was marked. Nangayo pa jud silag additional P5,000 kay dako kuno kaayo og trabaho," said Oliva.

Oliva said that aside from the three, another person who was involved is at large as of this writing.

The agent on the case, Attorney Wenceslao Gallendez, found out that these accused made it appear that their jobs were legitimate by fronting as job order workers to convince the consumers that the payment was legal.

“So mahibong ka why a former accredited electrician sa VECO kuyog sa current contractors sa VECO,” said Oliva.

During their arrest, authorities were able to confiscate numerous billing statements of consumers from Mariot. VECO said that even his job before was to repair wires, emphasizing that he should not have, in any sense, taken hold of these billing statements.

Engineer Raul Lucero, COO and president of VECO, said that right after they started restoring the power supply, they also heard reports of extortions by linemen on the ground.

“Posible nga naa gyuy namayad didto sa gawas kay naa may naabot ing-ani nga istorya, so mao to kami nag-conduct og investigation internally, amo sad gipatawag among mga contractors,” Lucero told the media.

He added that the extortion in exchange of quick restoration is just one among the other modus done by the similar groups targeting other areas that are consumers of VECO.

Oliva, for his part, said that investigation is ongoing to validate these reports.

Lucero said the arrest of the suspects is proof that they do not tolerate such acts in their company, emphasizing that the consumers won’t have to pay any price to have their areas reenergized.

“This is an illegal activity nga gihimo sa mga nagpahimulos sa sitwasyon,” he added.

Furthermore, as false information has also circulated that VECO is allegedly legitimizing these extortions, Oliva said they will be going after those who spread this misinformation.

The arrested individual are now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 7832 also known as Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act in relation to Article 8 of the Revised Penal Code.

Aside from this, they were also charged with violations of Article 318 of the Revised Penal code (other deceits). — KQD (FREEMAN)