Fiscal arrested for extortion

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation arrested the other day a Parañaque City prosecutor for allegedly extorting P60,000 from a businessman.

Arrested, according to NBI director Reynaldo Wycoco, was Apolinar Quetulio Jr., 53, of 87 Mabituin St., Masambong, Quezon City.

Investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly tried to collect the amount from Rey Namoco, owner of DELS Trucking Service, last Monday in exchange for the release of the victim’s impounded cargo truck.

According to the NBI Intelligence and Special Operations Division (ISOD), Namoco’s truck, loaded with various Nestle products, was intercepted last Monday morning in Pasay City by elements of the Philippine National Police-National Capital Region’s Mobile Group.

The truck was impounded, and its driver and two helpers, were brought to Parañaque City for investigation and inquest following a police report that the truck was carrying stolen goods.

However, the NBI said, investigation failed to show that the goods were indeed stolen. But despite this, the NBI said, Quetulio refused to release the truck, the driver and the two helpers.

The suspect allegedly told Namoco that the truck and his three employees would only be released after "payment" of P60,000. According to the NBI, the suspect also threatened Namoco with charges of robbery, hijacking and car theft if he failed to pay-up.

Namoco haggled the amount down to P40,000, gave the suspect P10,000 and went to the NBI, which arranged an entrapment of the suspect.

At about 5 p.m. last Tuesday, Quetulio was nabbed inside his office by NBI agents after he pocketed P30,000 in marked bills.

"We already suspected something was fishy when the impounded truck, the driver and the helpers were taken by the arresting officers to Parañaque when the arrest was made in Pasay City," said lawyer Oscar Embido, head of the NBI’s ISOD.

Charges of robbery-extortion and violation of the Ant-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act have been filed by the NBI against Quetulio who is now detained at the NBI Jail.

Embido added that they are also eyeing collusion between Quetulio and the policemen who made the arrest.