4 PAIRTF agents face extortion raps

Four operatives of the country’s anti-illegal recruitment task force are now in hot water following a complaint by a businesswoman who claimed she had to pay P350,000 in exchange for the dropping of non-existent charges against her and her husband.

Charged with robbery-extortion were PO3 Fernando Ponce; intelligence officers Gomer Broco, alias Jovy Ramos, and Danny Malicsi; and one John Doe, all of the Presidential Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force (PAIRTF) under Director Reynaldo Jaylo.

Also included in the charge sheet was Celita Rivera, a business partner of the complainant.

In a complaint filed before the Western Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Sitti Mariam Faisal, part owner of Blue Bay Employment Services, claimed that on June 2, the four PAIRTF members and her business partner came to her office at AP Building on Pedro Gil street, Malate, Manila and threatened her with arrest unless she produces P500,000.

Faisal claimed she was informed by the suspects that her husband, Ziad Tajouri, was facing illegal recruitment charges before PAIRTF’s Task Force Hunter. Since her husband was not present, the operatives said they would be arresting her.

The complainant said that out of fear of arrest, she agreed to settle in the amount of P350,000.

Broco, who introduced himself as Jovy Ramos, allegedly took the money, while telling her that the balance of P150,000 plus a bottle of wine would be collected the following day.

On June 23, the couple went to the PAIRTF office to lodge a complaint. Inside the office they saw one of the suspects who immediately left, prompting the complainant to seek the assistance of Jaylo’s deputy, Senior Superintendent Cresencio Cabasal.

Cabasal furnished the complainant with photos of PAIRTF personnel, from which she identified three suspects.

Western CIDG chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut said an enraged Jaylo, upon learning of the incident, coordinated with him for the arrest of the suspects.