CIDG: 3 nabbed for extorting P90-M to rig local poll in Cagayan

MANILA, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested three individuals who claimed to be information technology specialists connected with the Commission on Elections, the police unit said on Tuesday.

In a report, the CIDG said the suspects assured two candidates of winning the mayoral and vice mayoral elections in Enrile town, Cagayan province, in exchange for P90 million.

The police unit said the operation stemmed from a complaint by Enrile mayoral candidate Robert Turingan and vice mayoral candidate Karen Turingan.

“The complainant[s], with their political party serving [as] municipal mayor and vice mayor in their locality for [a] period of 27 years, [lost] their bid twice after they refused to accept the offer from their (referring to the suspects) group in winning the local election in exchange [for] giving in with their demands,” the CIDG explained.

The CIDG report did not disclose when the extortion incident took place.

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The complainants agreed to meet with the three suspects in a mall in Marikina City, where CIDG operatives then arrested the suspects around 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

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Boodle money, identification cards, mobile phones, a vehicle, and a brown envelope containing a genuine P1,000 bill were confiscated from the suspects.

READ: CIDG confiscates P97.24-M worth of evidence during Jan 2025 operations

A follow-up operation was conducted in Parañaque City, where one of the suspects was supposed to remit the amount obtained from the complainant.

However, the transaction tipped off other suspects, and four individuals remain at large, according to the CIDG.

The suspects are facing criminal complaints before the Marikina City Prosecutor’s Office for robbery with intimidation or violence/robbery extortion in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act and the Omnibus Election Code.