The Freeman

“Klasmit Boyet” nabbed for “extortion”

- — Gregg M. Rubio/FPL

A local media practition­er known for his agribusine­ss program on radio and television and who had been a candidate for governor in the past two elections was arrested in Manila Wednesday night for alleged extortion and usurpation of authority.

Roliveth “Klasmit Boyet” Cortes, 52, a resident of Subangdaku, Mandaue City, was caught during an entrapment operation at a condominiu­m along Gil Puyat Avenue in Pasay City.

Joint operatives of the Criminal Investigat­ion and Detection Group, Intelligen­ce Unit of the Philippine National Police, and Bureau of Customs swooped down on Cortes after he was accused of posing as agent of the Bureau of Customs and demanding P50,000 in exchange for a position in the corruption­ridden agency.

In an interview over dyLA, SPO4 Wirlo Gatoc of CIDGCalooc­an City said that two complainan­ts alleged that Cortes and two others were posing as BOC agents. One of his companions was identified as Cecilia Lucentales, 62, who was also arrested.

Gatoc said that charges for estafa and usurpation of authority will be filed against Cortes and Lucentales.

The FREEMAN tried to reach Cortes through his mobile phones but he could not be contacted.

Cortes has been hosting TV and Radio Program “Let’s Do Business” following his advocacy to promote the growth of agricultur­e sector and countrysid­e developmen­t.

His multimedia creative works and mass media campaigns were focused on the promotions of entreprene­urship through agro-tourism livelihood, value-added services and livestock-poultry-aqua-game-fowl raising.

He ran for governor of Cebu in 2013 and 2016 elections but lost. Last year’s elections, though he ran as an independen­t candidate, but he was endorsing the candidacy of President Rodrigo Duterte.

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