Teacher arrested for extortion

A nursing professor was arrested Sunday in Marikina City for allegedly extorting P10,000 from her male student in exchange for a passing grade. The suspect, Susan Retirado, 43, of Doña Juana Subdivision in Barangay Santolan, Pasig City, did not resist arrest when cornered by men of Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., inside a food chain at the Riverbank at about 5 p.m. Sunday.

Retirado, a nursing professor at the Southeast Asian College at the United Doctors Medical Center (UDMC) in Quezon City, denied the extortion charges. But Ramos said Retirado was found positive of ultra violet powder during physical examination by the crime laboratory of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame.

The complainant, Harvey Linarez, 19, a 3rd year nursing student, said he texted Retirado last Friday to inquire about his grades. The professor answered that Linarez might not make it to the higher level because of his poor grades. Linarez explained that his nursing care management subject involved academic and skills lessons. And Retirado was his professor on the skills portion of the 16-unit subject.

According to Linarez, he asked Retirado whether he could make up for his low grades and even offered two Dalmatians so he could do such. But Retirado asked for P10,000 prompting Linarez to consult his parents.

The first entrapment operation was scheduled at a fastfood chain in Cainta, Rizal but it did not materialize because the professor backed out. The next day, Linarez texted again Retirado and asked her that the price be lowered to P3,000. Retirado got mad and texted back that was her last asking price, "Take it or leave it."

Ramos directed his intelligence chief Inspector Teodulo Armada to arrange another entrapment operation. But Retirado did not call again prompting Armada to send his men home.

But last Sunday Linarez was surprised when Retirado texted and demanded that her student hand over the money at a fastfood chain in the Riverbank.

She was arrested after accepting the money from Linarez.

According to Linarez, there are at least 10 of them who were being victimized by Retirado in her racket.