3 nabbed for extorting from Japanese exec

LAGUNA , Philippines   â€“ Three persons were arrested in a police entrapment operation in Sta. Rosa City here on Wednesday for extorting money from a top Japanese executive of an industrial company in exchange for the non-filing of a supposed rape case against him.

Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Calabarzon police director, requested the Japanese national not to be identified for security reasons.

Charges of robbery-extortion have been filed against the three arrested suspects – Sharon Mendoza, 42; Lourdes Manalo, 49; and Edwin Gasga, 46 – who police said belong to a swindling syndicate.

Estipona said trouble began for the Japanese when he met two women, a certain Kate and KC, in a Makati City mall and had lunch with them in a Japanese restaurant.

The two women later invited him to their house, also in Makati, for a round of drinks. There, a girl joined them.

After a few minutes, the two women left supposedly to buy something, leaving the Japanese executive with the girl. When they returned, the girl reportedly complained of vaginal pain and was brought to a clinic where Mendoza posed as doctor.

Mendoza alleged that the girl had vaginal laceration, and needed P500,000 for an operation and P200,000 for post-operation care, which the Japanese gave.

The Japanese and the two women returned to the house where Gasga and Manalo introduced themselves as the girl’s supposed parents. He gave them P200,000 more and a laptop.

Not contended, the group contacted the Japanese the next day and demanded P800,000 so rape charges would not be filed against him.

The Japanese sought help from his friends, who in turn contacted the police, and an entrapment operation was laid out in Barangay Don Jose, Sta. Rosa City on Wednesday.