Fiscal arrested for extortion

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation arrested a Manila City prosecutor Wednesday for allegedly extorting P10,000 from a lawyer in exchange for a favorable decision on a case he is handling.

The suspect was identified as Manila Third Assistant Prosecutor Pedro Salanga, of 220 8th Avenue, Caloocan City.

Investigation conducted by the NBI showed that Salanga is handling a case filed by Cherry Anne Marie Eclarino for slight physical injuries and slander by deed.

According to the NBI, last March 9, Eclarino’s lawyer Joel Ferrer received a text message from Salanga instructing him to call him.

When Ferrer called Salanga, the suspect allegedly demanded P10,000 in exchange for his favorable decision in Eclarino’s case. Salanga allegedly demanded an initial P5,000 with the remainder to be paid after the decision has been finalized.

The suspect allegedly told Ferrer to meet him on March 13 in a coffee shop inside a Manila mall to receive the "payment."

After his conversation with Salanga, Ferrer contacted the NBI which then prepared the entrapment operation. Salanga was arrested by agents of the NBI’s National Capital Region shortly after receiving marked bills totalling P5,000 from Ferrer.

According to the NBI, Salanga’s hands tested positive for fluorescent powder when examined by NBI chemists. This, according to the NBI proves that Salanga indeed touched the marked money.

Salanga, a Manila fiscal for 18 years, refused to answer questions from reporters. Ironically, according to the NBI, Salanga was the inquest fiscal in an extortion case they filed last week.

Charges of bribery and violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices law have been filed against Salanga who is now detained at the NBI Jail.

Meanwhile, a Pasay City license inspector was arrested in an entrapment operation Wednesday for allegedly extorting money from a businesswoman.

Ricardo Barana was arrested by the Pasay City police on the complaint of eatery owner Laila Valencia after the suspect demanded P5,000 from her, purportedly to keep her business from being shut down for alleged ordinance violations.

Based on Valencia’s affidavit to police, Barana first came to their establishment along Cabrera street last Sunday and talked to her husband, Rolando, regarding their eatery’s supposed violations. Barana reportedly threatened to close down their store if they would not make arrangement with him.

On Tuesday, Barana reportedly came to pick up the first P1,200 of the demanded P5,000 and said that he would come back the following morning to get the balance.

Valencia decided to see their barangay chairman for advice who then coordinated with the police.

Police nabbed Barana after receiving the P3,800 balance a few steps away from the eatery.

Investigators at the Pasay City police investigation division, though, said they believe that Barana "only gave the money to pay for food." Barana was not kept in detention unlike other crime suspects. — Mike Frialde and Jose Aravilla