MANILA, Philippines -- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday afternoon filed charges against an official of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) who allegedly extorted money from a businesswoman in exchange for a certification for a fire insurance claim.

Fire Inspector Chandler Arcadio, chief of the Investigation and Intelligence Section of the BFP in San Juan City, was charged with direct bribery, and violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), and Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees) before the Office of the Ombudsman.

According to lawyer Alan Contado, chief of the NBI Anti-Graft Division, the case stemmed form the complaint of Maria Amie Aguilar, of Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Sta. Mesa Manila, whose store was gutted by fire last September 23.

Aguilar said after her store was gutted by fire, she immediately went to Arcadio's office to process the requirements for her insurance claim worth P500,000.

She said Arcadio asked her to give her 10 percent of the claim in exchange for her certification papers. This prompted her to go to the NBI which set up an entrapment operation and caught Arcadio in the act of receiving money from the victim.