Extortionist gets a taste of vendor’s vengeance

Preying on the meek and powerless, he ends up paying big-time.

A man who posed as a collector for the police was charged with robbery extortion in court for allegedly demanding protection money from a sidewalk refreshment vendor.

Enrico Robledo, 53, resident of Morong Street, Tondo, Manila, was arrested in an entrapment operation after Rolando Gamba, 22, finally complained to the Manila City Hall Public Assistance (Chapa) office.

Gamba said the suspect had been collecting P100 a day from him allegedly on behalf of Chapa officials in exchange for the continued operation of his stall at the corner of Natividad Lopez Street and Villegas Road across city hall.

When he was unable to pay him for two days because of poor sales, Gamba said, Robledo threatened him by showing two shotgun shells.

‘I’m from Chapa’

“Ito ang tatama sa katawan mo sa susunod na hindi ka makapagbigay sa akin ng bale halagang P300 kasama na ang para bukas. Tiga-Chapa ako (This will hit your body next time you fail to give the P300 you now owe me, including the payment due tomorrow. I’m from Chapa),” Gamba quoted the Robledo as telling him.

Senior Insp. Rolando Lorenzo Jr., chief of Manila Chapa, formed a team to arrest the suspect when he learned about the complaint.

Around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, Robledo approached Gamba to collect the money and asked him to hurry up with the P300 since the policemen were supposedly waiting for it, according to the affidavit of arrest.

Robledo took the marked money from the complainant and proceeded to the Manila Anti-Drug Abuse Council Office, where he was later arrested.

Assistant City Prosecutor Nelson Pagaduan recommended a P100,000 bail for Robledo’s provisional liberty.