Extortionist nabbed in Midsayap town

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - Policemen on Sunday apprehended in a dragnet in Midsayap town a notorious extortionist preying on businessmen in the province.

Supt. Reynante Delos Santos, chief of the Midsayap municipal police, said suspect Glen Ferolin voluntarily yielded  P70,000 he got  from grains trader Fred Rapacon.

The operation that led to Ferolin’s arrest was prompted by Rapacon’s report to the Midsayap police about the former's attempt to coerce him into paying "protection money."

Rapacon said Ferolin forced him, through letters and text messages, to shell out the amount in exchange for the safety of his grains buy-and-sell business in nearby  Pikit town, also in North Cotabato.

Ferolin had also warned to harm members of Rapacon’s family if Rapacon fails to deliver by October 20 the P70,000 in a designated place in Midsayap.

Delos Santos said Ferolin was hcuffed by policemen after he received the envelope containing marked money. - John Unson