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Sex videotape blackmailer nabbed

OPERATIVES of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group have arrested a Filipino mestizo who was threatening to expose through the internet a supposed videotape of him having sex with his former girlfriend months before they broke up in August last year.

CIDG director Chief Supt. Raul Castañeda identified the suspect as Harold James Egertz.

His arrest was based on the complaint filed by the ex-girlfriend, a 21-year-old Nursing graduate, whom Egertz had previously blackmailed over the videotape. The victim said she had paid Egertz P100,000 the first time and he wanted more money.

Egertz was arrested in an entrapment operation in a fast food restaurant in Manila after he received marked money from the victim. Recovered from him were three DVDs, two cellphone memory cards with adaptors, two notebook pages containing his handwritten demands for money from the victim.

Robbery/extortion charges were filed against him. The DOJ fixed bail at P100,000. - Raymond Africa

COMBINED government security forces arrested a ranking communist leader as he was about to get married in a Catholic church in South Cotabato Saturday, a belated PNP report yesterday said.

The report identified the suspect as Antonio Albutra alias Ka Warren, platoon leader of the CCC/NPA Front Committee 71. Albutra was positively identified by security forces as he was about to wed an unidentified woman at Barangay Cannery, Polomolok, South Cotabato. - Raymond Africa

A 19-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were arrested by police while having sex inside their car at the parking lot of the Tiendesitas mall along C-5 Road in Ugong Village, Pasig City.

Pasig police chief Senior Supt. Francisco Uyami said the two are now detained the local police jail and will be charged with grave scandal.

A police mobile patrol car chanced upon the duo at around 2:30 a.m. inside their Daewoo car (WGJ-689). The cops ordered the pair to get dressed then took them to jail. Uyami said the man smelled heavily of liquor while they are still checking the woman if also drunk. "Posibleng nagkainuman doon sa lugar at pagkatapos nagkayayaang mag-sex ang dalawa. Ayaw magsalita noong dalawa pero sa tingin namin, nag-trip lang sa loob ng kanilang kotse," Uyami said.

He said the Tiendesitas strip mall is a popular hangout among the youth and young professionals especially at night. Several popular bars are located in the area. - Christian Oineza

THE Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Thursday that the buses impounded for operating without a franchise may be left to rot at the impounding site if their owners fail to get a franchise from the government.

MMDA Traffic Operation Chief Angelito Vergel de Dios said there are still colorum buses left in the Las Piñas impounding area and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has refused to issue new franchises for Metro Manila buses. He said the buses will not be released unless their owners can secure a franchise from the LTFRB.

MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando claims these colorum buses will again find their way to Edsa as soon as they are released since their operators have the resources to settle traffic fines of P6,000 plus a three-month suspension. The MMDA said the crackdown on colorum buses has improved travel time in Edsa from the previous 31.88 kilometers per hour to 65 kms/hr. - Ashzel Hachero

ROBBERS carted away more than P30,000 in cash and P6,000 in checks after they broke into the Chancery Bishop Office of the Virac diocese in Barangay San Jose, Virac, Catanduanes Monday.

A belated report to Camp Crame said the thieves managed to enter the office after cutting a portion of the reinforced steel window grill and removing four jalousies.