2 nabbed for extort try on Northern Samar gov

MANILA, Philippines - Two men were arrested in an entrapment at a hotel in Pasig City last week for reportedly trying to extort money from Northern Samar Gov. Paul Daza, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said yesterday.

Dominador Narit Jr. and Joel Yjares were apprehended after Daza gave them the marked money when they met at the hotel’s restaurant on Jan. 31.

The NBI said Daza asked the agency’s help after Narit – who introduced himself as Donmar Jones, a producer working for GMA-7 – initially demanded P1 million in return for not exposing an alleged anomaly in his province.

Daza told the NBI he met Narit in 2012. Narit said GMA-7 will air a documentary on the “Las Navas road anomaly” and asked to meet with him before the show airs, Daza said.

The Northern Samar governor said Narit told him the P1 million would also cover a documentary on Daza’s accomplishments. Narit later lowered his demand to P350,000, Daza said.

On Jan. 24, Daza said he received a text message from Narit, informing him that his friend, Donmar Jones, told him about the expose. Narit claimed he intervened and lowered the amount to P50,000, which Daza was to give when they meet at the hotel, the governor said.

Narit and Yjares, who are being held at the NBI headquarters, have been charged with robbery before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office, the NBI said.