Cops nab teacher who allegedly posed as an NPA bomber in extortion ploy

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested a teacher who allegedly posed as a member of the New People's Army (NPA) to extort money from educational institutions, GMA’s Marisol Abdurahman reported Tuesday on “24 Oras.”

Identified as Jake Castro, the CIDG said the suspect supposedly sent e-mails to victim schools and threatened to bomb them if they didn't pay him P2-million in cash.

At least 114 schools in Metro Manila had received the said e-mail in just two days.

“Kung di magbibigay ang mga schools na ito, pasasabugin nya yung eskwelahan at merong mga mamamaril na mga suspect dito,” said CIDG Director Police Major General Eliseo Cruz.

(If they won’t give him what he wants, he said he will bomb the schools and his companions will start shooting.)

According to the CIDG, part of the e-mail were instructions directing the victims to take a video of the money being prepared. The victims were then instructed to put the money inside a box and mail it to a provided address.

“Kaya malaki yung chance na may magco-comply, may matatakot para i-deliver yung ganong gusto nila,” added CIDG-NCR regional chief Police Colonel Glen Silvio.

(That’s why there’s a good chance that some people will comply. They will get scared and deliver what he is asking for.)

However, a school principal sought help from authorities, and undercover policemen who pretended to be school staff caught the suspect in an entrapment operation.

Aside from the boodle money, also recovered from the suspect was a .38 caliber gun.

“Gusto ko lang humingi ng tawad sa mga schools na nasendan po ng email,” said Castro, who is in police custody and facing multiple complaints.

(I want to apologize to the schools who received the email.)

“Di ko nga rin po alam eh. Di ko rin po alam paano nagsimula itong naisip ko,” he said.

(I don’t know what happened. I don’t know how I came up with this.) — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA News