Fake DILG, media busted

ORANI, Bataan — Six bogus media personalities and a fake Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) personnel were arrested by the Orani Municipal Police Station (MPS) for extorting money from a “peryahan” or carnival.

First to be arrested was Cynthia Gabinay, 61, who even went to Barangay Chairman Marvin de la Cruz of Barangay Mulawin, Orani to complain about supposed illegal gambling at a carnival in the area.

Gabinay, along with her cohorts Rowena Banihit and Maria Victoria Villegas, were wearing jackets with DILG markings when they reported to De la Cruz.

The barangay chairman, however, asked for their identification cards and mission order but they failed to produce such. Gabinay was subsequently arrested while Banihit and Villegas managed to flee.

Subsequent checking with the carnival operator showed that Gabinay and her cohorts had already extorted P300 from them.

Gabinay will be charged with extortion and usurpation of authority.

Meanwhile, in a follow-up operation conducted by the Orani police and the Mulawin Barangay Watchmen, six fake newsmen were arrested in the area for the same modus.

The suspects were identified as Benny Billones, Myrna Gomez, Raldy Abano, Reynalod Gomez, Dolores Morado Quides and one minor, all residents of Antipolo City.

According to the carnival operator, the six suspects tried to extort money from them and would not leave unless they were given “gas money.” Authorities conducted the entrapment operation wherein the suspects were caught in the act of accepting marked money.

The suspects were taken to the Orani MPS for charges pertaining to their crime.