By Wilson Palima, Jackie Palima and Edna Mayores
Eagle News Service
Two men were arrested for alleged robbery-extortion in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, days before the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Police said Paul Mark Lavina Umlas alias “Paulo Battallones,” a resident of Brgy. Banay-banay, Cabuyao City; and local election leader Jerome Trinos were arrested by operatives in an entrapment operation on Tuesday, May 8, after they extorted P600,000 from Cesar Hernandez.
Based on the police’s investigation, Umlas conspired with Trinos to extort the amount from Hernandez, who was running for the post of barangay chair in Barangay Malitlit, Sta. Rosa, in exchange for the supposed support of the Iglesia ni Cristo in the coming election.
Police said Hernandez reported the incident to the INC district office in Laguna.
“Nang ako’y kausapin noong nag-o-offer sa akin na ako ay i-endorso, kapalit nung halaga ay ako’y nagduda na, na ang pagkakaalam ko na ang kapatiran (sa Iglesia) ay hindi tumatanggap ng anumang halaga kapalit ng pag-endorso sa isang kandidato,” Hernandez said.
It was the INC leadership in Laguna that called the Sta. Rosa PNP chief Eugene Orate, who immediately set up the entrapment operation in a restaurant in Laguna.
Police operatives recovered a .45 caliber pistol from Umlas.
The suspects, who now face counts for robbery extortion and illegal possession of firearms, have been detained at the Sta. Rosa PNP custodial facility.
INC spokesperson Brother Edwil Zabala has reiterated that the Church’s Administration does not give and has not given anyone any authority to negotiate for nor to ask for favors from any candidate in exchange for the Church’s support in the upcoming election.
