NLRC commissioner faces suspension

The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission recommended yesterday the preventive suspension of National Labor Relations Commissioner Victoriano Calaycay for allegedly extorting money from a businesswoman.

PAGC said it brought up the case of Calaycay to the Office of the President upon the recommendation of Labor Secretary Arturo Brion.

Calaycay was nabbed in an entrapment operation conducted by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation on Dec. 1 at the Century Park Sheraton Hotel along Vito Cruz street, Manila.

Based on a report to PAGC, Calaycay, with lawyers Zomer Ochavillo and Augusto Hidalgo of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and another co-accused, businessman Dennis Gabionza, allegedly demanded P400,000 from Jocelyn Enriquez to speed up the processing of her license to operate a recruitment agency here in the country.

The suspects allegedly sought a downpayment of P200,000 so the POEA could start processing the papers. This prompted Enriquez to seek assistance from the NBI on Nov. 27 and an entrapment operation was set.

Calaycay was arrested after receiving P200,000 and handing it over to Gabionza. Recovered from the suspects were two pieces of P100 bills that were dusted with fluorescent powder.

Calaycay and his co-accused are out on bail, which was set by a Manila court at P30,000 each.

Ochavillo and Hidalgo were also charged with graft and is now under investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman. – Aurea Calica