A 26-year-old private teacher who pretended to be a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) in his alleged extortion activities and threats at 33 schools in eight cities in Metro Manila was arrested by Criminal Investigation and Detection operatives. Group (CIDG), in an entrapment operation in Las Piñas City, on April 22 (Friday).
The suspect was identified as Jake Castro, a teacher at a private school in Doña Manuela Subdivision in Barangay Pamplona, Las Piñas.
In a report from CIDG-National Capital Region (NCR) field unit chief, P/Colonel Randy Glenn Silvio, at 5:50 pm when Castro was arrested in Brgy. Zapote after being bitten into the laid entrapment.
The suspect allegedly used the email address newpeoplesarmy1969@gmail.com, identified himself as a member of the NPA’s special tactics faction, and extorted money from schools. He threatened to detonate a bomb and attack and be a ruthless shooter if he did not give up.
He allegedly targeted nine schools in Parañaque, seven in QC, and other schools in Taguig, Pasay, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Makati, Pasig and Mandaluyong.
A school in Brgy Bago Bantay, QC, was able to file a complaint with the CIDG that the suspect demanded P2-million from them. The entrapment was carried out and the suspect was convinced to be paid less than P500,00.
Teacher who threatens to bomb 33 schools in Metro Manila arrested
The operative who pretended to be a delivery rider delivered the money and arrested the suspect at his house in Zapote.
The suspect also recovered a .38 caliber gun, apart from marked money, five shotgun bullets, a cellphone, and motorcycle gadgets.
He is already facing charges of robbery, resisting arrest, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, violation of the election gun ban, and Presidential Decree 1727 (Anti-Bomb Joke Law).
The CIDG is still investigating whether the suspect has a connection or is a communist rebel.
According to Presidential Decree No. 1727, “Any person who, by word of mouth or through the use of the mail, telephone, telegraph, printed materials and other instrument or means of communication, willfully makes any threat or maliciously conveys, communicates, transmits, imparts, passes on, or otherwise disseminates false information, knowing the same to be false, concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual or unlawfully to damage or destroy any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property, by means of explosives, incendiary devices, and other destructive forces of similar nature or characteristics, shall upon conviction be punished with imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, or a fine or not more than forty thousand pesos (P40,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction over the offense herein defined and penalized.”
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