Suspected extortionist arrested in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 21): Suspected extortionist arrested in North Cotabato 

Alert policemen on Sunday arrested during a dragnet operation here a suspected notorious extortionist preying on businessmen in the province.

Superintendent Renante Delos Santos, Midsayap municipal police chief, said suspect Glen Ferolin voluntarily yielded when he was collared by policemen who acted as couriers of the P70,000 he tried to mulct from grains trader Fred Rapacon.

Earlier, Rapacon reported to the police about Ferolin's demand of "protection money" in exchange for the safety of his grains buy and sell business in nearby Pikit, town also in North Cotabato.

This prompted Supt. delos Santos to hatch an entrapment plan to determine whether the suspect meant business and was really mulcting money from the trader.

Two policemen posted near the place agreed upon by Rapacon and Ferolin. On Sunday, Rapacon came a see Ferolin in an undisclosed place in Midsayap, North Cotabato.

Police said Ferolin apparently knew Rapacon but the trader could not recall knowing the suspect.

As Rapacon handed over the envelop containing the P70,000 marked money to Ferolin, the police closed in and handcuff the suspect.

Surprised, Ferolin denied he was asking protection money and told police the trader voluntarily offered to help him.

The Midsayap PNP is still interrogating the suspect to determine whether he had victimized other traders in Midsayap or nearby towns or he has links with al-Khobar, an extortion gang preying on traders and bus companies operating in North Cotabato.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=578322