This, after the Philippine National Police-CIDG received a complaint from a certain Alma Carpio, of Barangay Sagud Baley, San Fabian, who said she received a letter on July 14 from the Serapion Group demanding P150,000, coupled with threats and intimidations.
On July 17, Carpio said she again received two telephone calls demanding the said amount, prompting her to report the threat to the CIDG.
At around 7:30 p.m., Police Inspector Freddie Cacliong, SPO1s Pablito Reyes and Artemio Rajimola, SPO3s Alex Alcantara and Constante Gali and PO1 Wilfredo Flores proceeded to the poblacion in San Fabian where the transaction will reportedly take place. There, the lawmen saw the suspects, namely, PO3 Francisco Castillo, Lito Narvaza and Alvin Gamboa roaming on board a white Daihatsu passenger car, with license plate TCH-964. Castillo reportedly got the money placed inside a plastic bag found at the fence of the public plaza. Narvaza was reportedly inside the car while Gamboa acted as lookout.
The CIDG men pursued the suspects and arrested them at about 8:30 p.m. Confiscated from them were one caliber .9mm Beretta pistol, one magazine containing six rounds of live ammunition, Castillo’s PNP ID and a caliber .22 stainless revolver with eight rounds of live ammunition.
Provincial Prosecutor Gonzalo Marata said the court will conduct a clarificatory investigation on July 29. As of press time, the suspects were detained at the CIDG regional office and will be later transferred to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)
Senior Superintendent Mario Sandiego, police provincial director, told The STAR in a text message that they will immediately conduct an investigation on Castillo’s case.