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MANILA, Philippines — A man claiming to be a consultant of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was arrested for allegedly extorting money in exchange for the release of two Chinese nationals who were recently rescued by the agency, the Southern Police District (SPD) said on Monday in a press conference in its headquarters in Taguig.
Suspect Larry Marbid, 48, and his driver, Laurence Delos Tria, 39, were arrested in an entrapment operation conducted near a fast food chain in Pasay Sunday night.
Marbid’s arrest stemmed from a complaint the police had received from a 25-year-old woman, according to Col. Kirby Kraft, the acting director of the SPD.
“We are still investigating. We have to validate who this person really is despite getting an NBI link from him. But that is still subject to validation,” Kraft said, speaking in a mix of English and Filipino.
“We should be glad that this operation took place. We had only one purpose there — to rescue these Chinese who needed help,” he added.
Marbid supposedly received marked money in exchange for the release of two Chinese nationals who were rescued by NBI agents last Friday, Sept. 16 at the Sta. Lucia Business Process Outsourcing building in Pasig.
Seized during the operation were P3,000.00 dusted money, P247,000.00 boodle money, and a gray Yamaha NMAX.
A complaint of robbery extortion will be lodged against Marbid, while Delos Tria — who allegedly attempted to intervene in the police operation — will be sued for obstruction of justice, according to Kraft.