Man nabbed for extort on Espina’s kin

ORMOC CITY, Philippines - – A 45-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly mulcted the brother in-law of General Leonardo Espina in this city on Friday.

Roberto Aguilar of Agusan del Sur was arrested by Chief Inspector Ibrahim Jambiran, head of the city police station 1, at the SMART Padala Center where he was about to pick up the P20,000  he allegedly extorted from Victor Espina.

Aside from the money, police reportedly found in Aguilar’s possession three more extortion letters including one asking for P250,000 from rice trader Gabino Sabino, P50,000 from scrap dealer Jun Odango and P100,000 from another rice trader Junjie Omega, and an icepick.

The letters, which were handwritten in mixed Taglish and Bisaya, reportedly warned would-be victims that something would happen to their families should they refused to grant the request.

The suspect said the letter he sent to Espina was his first attempt at extortion. He said he had been residing in Ormoc for some time and was engaged in a business.

However, he said Super Typhoon Yolanda took his business away, so he tried extortion.