4 NICA agents nabbed over alleged extortion on Korean

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested four National  Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) agents over an alleged extortion attempt on a Korean man.

According to Saleema Refran’s Friday “24 Oras” report, the NICA agents reportedly attempted to extort millions of pesos from the victim multiple times, threatening him with arrest should he refuse to pay.

The suspects also said they were working with a certain “Attorney Mark” and another Korean citizen — both of whom were not present during the entrapment operation.

“My uncle offered them P100,000 initial amount and they kept on calling him. They’re asking like million, million pesos. So, yes, my uncle is very worried and afraid of doing, I mean, encountering that kind of action. He's a foreigner,” the victim’s relative said.

Recovered from the suspects were their service firearms, and identification (ID) cards bearing different names. They denied the allegations and said they were conducting a legitimate operation.

The NICA confirmed the suspects were intelligence agents.

“From the get-go, entrapment operation po yan at inaresto po sila without a  warrant dahil nakita mismo ng ating NBI agents 'yung nangyari so they  will have to explain a lot,” said Department of Justice Spokesperson  Mico Clavano.

(From the get-go, there was an entrapment operation and they were arrested without a warrant. The NBI agents  caught them red-handed so they have to explain a lot.)

“We will be giving them due process kung saan makakapagbigay sila ng kanilang answer at mga depensa,” said Clavano.

(We will be giving them due process.)

The suspects underwent inquest proceedings at the Pasay Prosecutors Office and they would face charges of robbery, extortion, and violating the  Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

“Well,  unacceptable. This is something that is very ironic dahil yung mga taong dapat magpapatupad or dapat nagpapatupad ng batas or mage-enforce ng  ating batas ay sila mismo ang nag-aabuso sa batas,” Clavano added.

(Well, it's unacceptable. It's very ironic because those who are supposed to enforce laws are abusing it.)

The NICA said they would thoroughly investigate the incident, adding they took “allegations of misconduct seriously.” — Sundy Mae Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News