NLRC official accused of extortion out on bail

A commissioner of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and three other people accused of extorting P400,000 from a Filipino-Canadian national were ordered released by a Manila court after posting bail of P30,000 each.

NLRC commissioner Victoriano Calaycay, businessman Dennis Gabionza, and two lawyers assigned at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Zomer Ochavillo and Augustus Hidalgo, allegedly demanded money from Jocelyn Enriquez, who was putting up a recruitment agency.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said corruption charges were also lodged against Calaycay and his co-accused.

Assistant Regional Director Vicente de Guzman III said the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office forwarded the charges to the Office of the Ombudsman while charges of direct bribery would still require a further preliminary investigation.

The four accused were detained at the NBI since their arrest on Dec. 1. They posted bail three days later.

Judge Roy Gironella, of the Manila City regional trial court branch 43, set bail at P30,000 each.

According to court records, Calaycay, Hidalgo, Ochavillo and Gabionza allegedly demanded P400,000 from Enriquez to speed up the processing of her license that would allow her to operate a recruitment agency in the Philippines.

They initially asked for a downpayment of P200,000 so the POEA could start processing the papers.

But Enriquez went to the NBI and sought assistance on Nov. 27 and a trap was set for Calaycay. The payoff was set on Dec. 1 at around 7 p.m. at Century Park Sheraton Hotel along Vito Cruz Street, Manila. Enriquez was accompanied by her secretary, Cherubyn See.

For the entrapment, the NBI prepared two pieces of P100 bills that were dusted with fluorescent powder. Enriquez allegedly handed the P200,000 that included the marked money to Calaycay, who in turn turned it over to Gabionza. NBI agents then swooped in.

The NBI originally filed charges of robbery extortion, direct bribery and graft against Calaycay and his co-accused but the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office changed it to direct bribery.

Efforts to reach Calaycay and his co-accused for comment were unsuccessful.