CATBALOGAN CITY- A former councilor of this city was arrested by agents of the National Bureau Investigation (NBI) after he allegedly tried to extort money to former mayor and now councilor, Coefredo “Tekwa” Uy.
Rodrigo Perez III, a three-termer councilor, was arrested by the NBI agents last Feb.17 and was arraigned before the City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday (Feb.20).
Perez is facing charges for two consummated robbery and one frustrated robbery based on the complaint of Councilor Uy, father of the incumbent City Mayor Stephany Uy.
It was learned that Perez has demanded for P20 million to Councilor Uy in exchange for the dropping of an alleged plunder case filed against the former city mayor and other city officials, to include her daughter, Mayor Uy.
The amount was later reduced to P10 million.
On Feb.8, Uy gave P50,000 to Perez and P25,000 two days later which was accepted by Renate Aquino, alleged to be cohort of the former councilor.
On Feb.16, Perez demanded from Councilor Uy of P1 million wherein he instructed Uy to give the money to Aquino at his store the following day.
Unknown to the suspects, an entrapment operation was planned by the NBI agents based in Catbalogan City.
Perez tried to run when he sensed that there were NBI agents in the area but was arrested.
The alleged plunder charge against Uy and other city officials before the Office of Ombudsman by one Bernard Jake Ramos stemmed to an alleged anomalous transaction involving land acquisition.(VICKY C. ARNAIZ)
