Fake reporters collared for extortion

Camp Vicente Lim, Laguna – Two persons pretending to be tabloid reporters were nabbed through citizen’s arrest after allegedly extorting money from a peryahan (mini-fair) operator in Sta. Rosa, Laguna Sunday evening, police said.

Superintendent Rodney Ramirez, Sta. Rosa police chief identified the suspects as Liza Basco, 38, resident of Onyx St., Paco, Manila and Luisito Salva, 54, taxi driver and a resident of San Miguel Heights; Valenzuela City.

According to report, the suspects allegedly approached the mini-fair operator Benjamin Pulmano after identifying themselves as reporter and editor of the tabloid Police Files Tonite and reportedly demanded P4,000 as protection money around 10 p.m.

Ramirez said Basco and Salva threatened Pulmano that they will expose in their newspaper the alleged illegal gambling operation in their mini-fair located at San Lorenzo South Subd. Barangay Malitlit if they refuse to shell-out the above mentioned amount.

With that, Pulmano apparently agreed to give first P500 as part of the agreed amount and will settle the balance in another time. However, when the suspects received the money, they pounced on the two suspects and turned them over to the police station.     – Arnell Ozaeta