2 NBI men caught in extort try

Two senior agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were arrested the other day by elements of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) for allegedly extorting P300,000 from a businessman in Manila.

The suspects, Rodrigo Mapoy, 47, special investigator lV, and Don Emmanuel Regulario, 26, special investigator III, both of the NBI Criminal Investigation Division (CID), gave themselves up peacefully when a team, led by Superintendent Mario de la Vega, of the NCRPO Counter-Intelligence Special Unit (CISU), collared them.

Metro police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco said the arrest of the two suspects is in line with President Arroyo’s campaign to rid the government of graft and corruption.

"In order to get rid of corrupt officials and felons, there is an urgent need for the citizenry and the police to forge a stronger working partnership," said Velasco, pointing out that the arrest of the NBI agents is proof that such an alliance is a formidable tandem.

In his report to Velasco, De la Vega said the arrest of Mapoy and Regulario came after businessman Pocholo Matias lodged an extortion complaint.

Unknown to Mapoy and Regulario, while they were negotiating with Matias, De la Vega had set up an entrapment operation against them in coordination with NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco.

Matias arranged a meeting with the suspects at the lobby of the Century Park Sheraton along Vito Cruz street in Manila at 3 p.m. last Wednesday.

After recognizing the NBI agents, Matias handed a white envelope containing P300,000 in marked money to the suspects.

Mapoy initially received the money and handed it over to Regulario, who then tried to leave the area.

But De la Vega and his men, assisted by NBI agents, were waiting for them after witnessing the proceedings.

Regulario was arrested before he could rush out of the hotel exit. His cohort, was easily cornered. De la Vega recovered the marked money from Regulario.

The NBI agents choose to remain silent on the charges against them, police said.

Velasco ordered the filing of robbery-extortion charges against Mapoy and Regulario before the Manila’s prosecutor’s office. They are currently detained at the NCRPO headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.