BI officer nabbed at Naia 3 for extortion

Operatives of the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group (ASG) on Thursday arrested a Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer and his cohorts at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) for allegedly extorting P60,000 from a budget airline.

PNP-Aviation Security Intelligence Unit chief Police Cap. Roberto Papa identified the suspects as Rino Romero, BI officer assigned at the bureau’s border control and intelligence unit at Naia Terminal 3, and his alleged accomplices, Rene Ares Cascano and Jodrel Joe Victoriano, both ground handlers.

The ASG received a complaint from German Robin, Immigration Officer Association of the Philippine president, who was informed about the extortion attempt by supposed BI officers.

The suspects wanted to collect hush money from the airline for allegedly mounting a “colorum” or an unauthorized special flight.

Papa said that Cascano and Victoriano posed as immigration officers when they went to the airline’s office in Parañaque City where they were arrested while collecting the P60,000.

Upon interrogation, they pointed to a certain Boss Jake, as the one who asked them to collect the P60,000 in exchange for a 50-percent cut.

The ASG laid out an entrapment operation, with Cascano and Victoriano contacting Boss Jake who agreed to meet them at Terminal 3. Boss Jake, who turned out to be Romero, was arrested after receiving his share. —Jerome T. Aning