Arrested Consolacion employee out on bail

CEBU, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation yesterday released from its custody the municipal employee of Consolacion who was arrested during an entrapment operation after allegedly taking money to facilitate a transaction after she posted a cash bond for her temporary liberty.

Regional Trial Court Branch 28 judge Marilyn Yap in Mandaue City issued the release order of Arlene Alenton last Thursday after she paid a P54,000 bail.

The order of release was formally received by the NBI office yesterday morning. NBI agent Gregorio Algoso said that after having verified the authenticity of the order from the court Alenton was released around 9:30 a.m.

Alenton posted bail despite her signing a waiver of detention to avail of a preliminary investigation of the criminal charges that the NBI filed against her before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Algoso said he checked with the anti-graft office and the latter confirmed that there is a rule that allows respondents of criminal cases to post bail even if their case is still under preliminary investigation.

Alenton is facing two counts each of estafa and violation of Republic Act 3019 otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. On top of that she is also facing an administrative case for grave misconduct before the anti-graft body.

She was arrested last Monday in the act of taking money to facilitate a transaction inside the Municipal Assessor’s Office of Consolacion.

Henry Montebon complained to the NBI that Alenton demanded money from him to facilitate the release of the tax declaration of the property he bought in barangay Pulpogan.

Montebon said that Alenton demanded an additional P7,000 on top of the P20,000 she already received last year. — Fred P. Languido/BRP (THE FREEMAN)