2 fixers caught getting money from applicant

By Liezle Basa Inigo

CAMP GADOR, Tuguegarao City — Two fixers who offered to help an applicant land a job in a government bureau were arrested during an entrapment operation inside a restaurant on Rizal Street, Centro 7, here on June 6.
    The suspects were identified as Isabelo Villaflor Ruiz, 61, resident of Centro 1, Tuguegarao City and Anafe Dela Peña Sumacbay, 45, online seller, and resident of Bassig Street, Ugac Norte of the said city.
    They were arrested by joint elements of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit/Provincial Intelligence Unit under the supervision of Maj. Joefferson Gannaban and Bureau of Fire Protection, Regional Office 2.
    The victim, identified only as alias Albert, said he met another applicant from whom he learned about someone who could facilitate their papers that would assure them of becoming members of the Bureau of Fire Protection Office.
    Due to the victim’s desire to enter the BFP, in the morning of June 5, Albert, together with another applicant, met Ruiz and Sumacbay at Pampangueña Restaurant on Rizal Street where they discussed the amount he (Albert) would pay to ensure that he could enter the agency.
    Allegedly, the suspects, Ruiz and Sumacbay, demanded an advance payment of P25,000 from him for processing of his papers within the BFP.
    Based on police reports, Albert told the suspects he could not afford the amount.
    The two fixers /suspects reduced their demand to P10,000.
    Albert said that what he can only afford was to give wine.    
    He claimed that he instead sent an amount of P1,550 through GCash for the purchase of wine.
   Report said the victim had the chance to verify from Provincial Director Aries Atal of BFP-Isabela if this is happening within their agency in which applicants can pay a certain amount to be able to enter the agency.
    Immediately, the provincial director contacted the Provincial Intelligence Unit for immediate action.
    An entrapment operation was set.
    Upon accepting P10,000 ‘boodle money’ from their victim alias Albert, 29, authorities arrested the suspects.
    Confiscated from the two alleged fixers were Oppo cellphone and Nokia cellphones.