State witness nabbed for extortion

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A government witness was arrested on Saturday for alleged extortion. 

Faisal Benasing, 35, who is being used as a witness against Abu Sayyaf bandits, was collared in an entrapment along P. Lorenzo street in this city at around 1:30 p.m.

Benasing reportedly asked P30,000 so he would not sign an affidavit and stand witness against suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit Murad Araha Jalali, who was arrested on Friday.

The family of Jalali made initial payments of P10,000 and P4,000 on Friday and was supposed to pay another P10,000 when he was arrested.

Operatives of the Zamboanga City police led by Chief Inspector Edilberto Alvarez recovered P14,000 in cash, a mobile phone and a money transfer receipt from Benasing.