GENERAL Santos City — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested the manager and the news director of a Bombo Radyo station here on Tuesday for allegedly extorting P5 million from a pastor-businessman.
But Bombo Radyo executives alleged that it was a “setup,” and promised “all-out support” for the two by “provid(ing) them with lawyers and bail money.”
Lawyer Regner Peneza, acting head of the NBI in Sarangani, said the suspects, Jonathan Macailing a.k.a. Jan-Jan and Salvador Galano a.k.a. Boy were arrested during an entrapment operation past 3 pm Tuesday inside the Robinson’s mall in Barangay Lagao.
Macailing is the station manager of DxES-AM radio here while Galano serves as its news director.
Peneza said the entrapment was made after pastor-businessman Joel Apolinario complained regarding an alleged extortion involving Macailing.
He alleged that Macailing asked for P10 million so the broadcaster would stop his stinging daily on-air commentary on Apolinario’s organization Kabus Padatoon (Kappa).
Apolinario is the founder of Kappa, a group offering an investment scheme that had been declared unauthorized by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Kappa, which is affiliated with an independent religious group headed by Apolinario, mainly offers 30 percent monthly payouts for investments from its members.
The group, which previously operated in Caraga, is presently based in Alabel town in Sarangani.
“According to the complainant, they already had a previous transaction and payment was made. But the suspect again made another demand (P10 million),” Peneza told reporters.
Peneza alleged that Macailing and Apolinario eventually settled for P5 million.
He said Macailing, accompanied by Galano, met Apolinario who allegedly gave a backpack containing P5 million in cash.
NBI agents then pounced on the suspects when they emerged from the restaurant.
The NBI showed footages of the alleged transaction inside the restaurant between Apolinario and the suspects whose fingerprints were reportedly found in the money used in the entrapment.
Peneza said the suspects would be charged with robbery extortion with threat and intimidation under Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code.
Macailing, who is currently in the custody of the NBI here, has denied the accusations and called it a “frame up” to force him to stop his commentaries against Kappa.
“I never saw nor touched the money,” Macailing said.
He said Apolinario arranged to meet with him but there was no discussion about money or any demand for payment.
Macailing, in an interview over TV Patrol South Central Mindanao, said he wanted to meet with Apolinario to clear some things about his being critical against Kappa.
He also wanted to discuss a possible sponsorship for the radio station’s bloodletting project should the latter “make an (monetary) offer.”
“I told my staff about that (sponsorship) and they all agreed. Should they (Kappa) make an offer, I don’t want to be the only one ending up happy. I can’t swallow that,” he added.
Radyo Bombo manager for Mindanao Ricky Collado backed his subordinates.
“It was a setup,” he said, and vowed that the radio network’s management would provide lawyers and bail money. “We are providing them all-out support,” he added.
Collado said their two broadcasters have been persistently tackling Kappa, allegedly as a multi-level pyramiding scam, and warning the public about falling prey to its scheme.
Collado said Macailing had offered to resign if it could be proven that he received money from Apolinario. He added that they want the restaurant’s CCTV footage to be made public “for the truth to come out.” (Mindanews with reports from Bong S. Sarmiento)
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