Mayoral candidate in Cebu nabbed for ‘extortion’
CEBU CITY — A radio blocktime broadcaster running for mayor in Talisay City, Cebu province, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly extorting P4 million from the incumbent reelectionist Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas.
Roger Cimafranca, 44, the lone opponent of Gullas in next year’s elections, and his companion Joselito Dullano, 37, were charged with extortion by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at the city prosecutor’s office on Friday.
Cimafranca and Dullano were arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by the CIDG inside a mall in Barangay Lawaan 2, Talisay City on Thursday afternoon.
Cimafranca was accused by Gullas of demanding P4 million for the former to withdraw his candidacy for mayor.
The suspect also allegedly threatened to release unspecified issues that would supposedly destroy Gullas’ reputation should the latter not give him the money.
Gullas told reporters here that he immediately sought the assistance of the CIDG to arrest the suspect.
Cimafranca, who earns a living as a blocktimer (one who buys radio time slots for a program he will host), denied the mayor’s accusations, saying he had no record of demanding money from anyone.
He claimed people allied with Gullas were the ones who allegedly offered him money so he would withdraw his candidacy for mayor.
“I did not ask for any amount. To be honest, I asked for nothing. They were the ones who offered,” Cimafranca said in an interview Friday.
Entrapment
In his affidavit submitted to the CIDG, Gullas said Cimafranca threatened and blackmailed him so he would give P4 million.
The mayor said he tapped the CIDG to conduct an investigation and arrest Cimafranca.
The CIDG Cebu City Field Unit and the Talisay City Police Station then hatched an entrapment operation against Cimafranca after the broadcaster agreed to meet with a Gullas representative at a coffee shop inside a mall in Barangay Lawaan 2, Talisay City at around 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 28.
An undercover operative handed over an envelope containing cash amounting to P10,000 and P199,000 in boodle money to Cimafranca who was accompanied by Dullano.
When Cimafranca accepted the money, he and Dullano were immediately arrested by the CIDG.
They were brought to the CIDG-Central Visayas office in Cebu City where they were detained.
