Ombudsman prober, cousin nabbed for extorting from Espinos in Pangasinan

A graft investigator for the Ombudsman and a labor arbiter were nabbed in an entrapment operation in Pangasinan on Saturday after they allegedly extorted money from the son of Pangasinan Representative Amado Espino.

The suspects were identified as Leonardo Nicolas, a senior graft investigator in the Office of the Ombudsman, and his cousin Atty. Isagani Nicolas, a labor arbiter in the National Labor Relations Commission.

The two were arrested at a hotel after receiving money they demanded from Amado Espino and his son Bugallon Mayor Jumel Espino, the NBI said in a statement.

NBI Director Dante Gierran said that last May, one of the suspects called the Provincial Legal Officer and Provincial Accountant of Pangasinan and demanded sums of money for the dismissal of cases filed against the Espinos.

When the younger Espino, along with one Atty. Geraldine Baniqued, met with them, the suspects said that the cases could be settled out of courtv if he paid at least P1,350,000.

Jumel Espino had rejected the proposition.

In their second meeting on July 14 at Star Plaza Hotel, the suspects demanded P1 million for each of the three pending cases filed against the mayor.

On July 19, Pangasinan Provincial Accountant Arturo Soriano once again received a call from the suspects, who reiterated the threat that the complaint against both Jumel Espino and Amado Espino would soon be docketed.

The following day, the older Espino sought the assistance of the NBI in coordination with the Office of the Ombudsman.

The entrapment operation was then set up, which led to the arrest of the suspects.

Congressman Espino has filed a complaint against Nicolas  for violation of Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code (Direct Bribery), Article 293 of the Revised Penal Code (Robbery Extortion), and Section 7d in relation to Section 11 of RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. -NB, GMA News