2 Taguig City Hall employees axed for extortion

Two employees of the Taguig City Hall were arrested after they were accused of extorting money from building permit applicants on Tuesday.

Emma Robianes and Edward Buncab, both with the Local Building Office, were arrested in an entrapment operation launched by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and policemen at the Taguig City satellite office in Bonifacio Global City.

PACC commissioner Greco Belgica said the two suspects had allegedly demanded P10,000 from applicants to start the application process and another P10,000 for the release of the permit.

In a statement, Mayor Lino Cayetano denounced the suspects and said he had ordered city administrator Lyle Pasco to conduct an inquiry.

He called on other people with similar complaints to inform his office or the Human Resource Management Office. “Rest assured, your city government will not tolerate any of these activities. They will be held accountable,” Cayetano said.—DEXTER CABALZA