VP Binay warns vs. fake anti-trafficking personnel

Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay cautioned entertainment establishments on Saturday against an extortion syndicate whose members claim to be members of the Inter-Agency Task Force Against Trafficking (IACAT). In a news release, Binay, the IACAT's chairman emeritus, said the syndicate demands money in exchange for supposed protection from raids. “Our sources indicate that they do their collections at night during weekends,” Binay said .“All member-agencies of the IACAT do not condone human trafficking, much less demand protection money,” he added. He said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) identified two of the members as “Willy” and “Atty. Mike,” who also claim to be connected with the Office of the Vice President. Binay said the two have allegedly been collecting money from bars and night clubs in Metro Manila, in exchange for protection from raids by the IACAT, which is spearheading the drive against human trafficking,  the illegal trade in human beings for forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. The NBI initially tried to conduct a sting operation, but the owner of a night club in Quezon City was hesitant to cooperate for fear of reprisal. An NBI investigation showed that the leader of the group was a certain Spike. His immediate subordinate is a certain Tata Oyi, while the alleged collector was Willy. However, when Willy’s identity was discovered, the group changed the collector of the protection money to a certain Zaldy. The OVP said the gang's operation was first brought to Binay's attention by a concerned citizen. - VVP, GMA News