Man arrested for extortion, estafa in Manila

NBI arrested Ljubomir Calixterio for estafa, extortion against his business partner. /Consuelo Marquez, INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — A man was arrested on Roxas Boulevard in Manila for estafa and for allegedly extorting money from his business partner, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced Thursday.

The NBI-Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (AOTD) identified the suspect as Ljubomir Calixterio Tamayo.

The NBI said the complainant, who requested anonymity, recruited Tamayo as his business partner for JPM88 Manpower Agency in Ermita, Manila.

The victim reportedly needed Tamayo, who is an engineer, so he can apply for a Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) license, which requires that at least one employee who is knowledgeable in the “construction business.”

In August 2017, after the issuance of the POEA license, Tamayo reportedly borrowed P100,00 from the complainant. After two months, Tamayo again asked for P160,000.

In May 2019, the complainant said Tamayo asked P1 million to fund his business idea to recruit domestic helpers in Luzon. He reportedly did not provide the money because he found out that Tamayo was lying about the business strategy.

On June 11, 2019, Tamayo rushed to the complainant’s office to ask for P2 million and started breaking things inside the office. Tamayo also threatened to ask POEA to cancel their license if the complainant failed to hand over the money.

This prompted the complainant to report the incident to the NBI, which led to the arrest of Tamayo during an entrapment operation on Wednesday.

“Nung una di pinapansin ang pera pero sumobra na raw yung kanyang panghihingi dahil magkaibigan nga sila,” NBI-AOTD Chief Joel Tovera said in a press conference at the NBI Main Building.

Tamayo is now under NBI’s custody and will undergo inquest proceedings before the City Prosecutor of Manila for estafa and extortion. (Editor: Eden Estopace)