More city market workers under probe for extortion

CEBU, Philippines —  The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 is looking into reports that more workers, some holding higher positions at the Cebu City market operations division, are involved in the alleged extortion activities at the Carbon Public Market.

NBI-7 director Rennan Oliva said they received information that Kara Mae Bargamento, who was arrested in an entrapment operation Wednesday last week for allegedly extorting P100,000 from Carbon market vendors,  was not acting alone.

According to Oliva, Bargamento may have only acted upon the orders of someone superior than her.

"If there are other persons involved, which we believed there are, so kuhaan na nato og ebidensya ug file-an og kaso because we have information nga duna say lain kauban si Miss Bargamento nga nagbuhat ani, higher (position) than her," said Oliva.

The official may have been giving orders to Bargamento to demand huge amount of money from the vendors in exchange for prime location in the modernized Carbon market.

Oliva, however, refused to give additional information pending the result of their investigation.

"I don't want to preempt kung pila na sila kabuok because we cannot determine ang extent ba sa nga involved, but definitely there were others involved," said Oliva.

He urged the other victims to come out and execute affidavits against Bargamento and other market officials involved in the alleged extortion activities.

"We are calling those who have been similarly victimized by Miss Bargamento to come to the office and file the necessary complaints," Oliva said.

Bargamento was arrested by NBI agents on November 24 during an entrapment at the Freedom Park in Carbon Market. She was caught in the act of receiving the money she allegedly demanded from a market vendor in exchange for a prime market space.

Bargamento was charged with violation of the Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. She was released from detention a day after her arrest after posting P90,000 bail for her temporary liberty. — FPL (FREEMAN)