PROTECTION RACKET PROTECTED BY CITY HALL

THE resolution signed by Assistant City Prosecutor Editha Bejar Segundo stemmed from the complaint of the Small-Scale Fish Consignment and Retailers at  Riverside Association represented by Marietta Barrientos, president; and Digna Oxino, secretary, that alleged  that Barrozo and Hernando demanded and collected P25,000 monthly protection money from June 2020  and only stopped on August after Hernando and his companions demolished the vendors’ stall structures and relocated them.

As gleaned from the group’s complaint, when the fish vendors were informed on March 2020, that they can no longer sell at their designated stalls at the Magsaysay Fish Market, they asked Barrozo for help who in turn assured the vendors that an arrangement can be worked out with “Bugoy,” nickname of Hernando.

Barrozo allegedly initially demanded  P50,000 monthly protection money to be able to sell at the Magsaysay Fish Market but this was reduced after Hernando allegedly agreed to reduce the amount to P25,000 after the vendors said they could not afford the P50,000.

Barrientos said the group’s members agreed to contribute P1,250 per month to meet the demand.

It was Hernando who allegedly ordered that the amount should be  paid every 25th of the month.

On June 25, 2020, the first P25,000 was allegedly collected by Oxino and turned over the amount to Barrozo (who signed for it on a notebook) who in turn gave the cash to Hernando.

The vendors religiously paid P25,000 every month from June 2020 to August 2021 to be able to sell fish at the fish market. But sometime on August 2021, Hernando and his companion suddenly demolished the stalls of the vendors. That prompted the vendors to file a complaint with the NBI office in La Union.

After  several attempts to serve the subpoenas to the three failed, the city prosecutor decided to issue the resolution based on the evidence submitted by the private complainants.

The resolution cited Hernando for demanding and receiving protection money from the vendors to enable them to continue to selling at the Magsaysay Market.

Both Barrozo and Lomibao were cited for conspiring in the commission of the offense.
The protection racket was exposed by the vendors during a committee hearing presided by Councilor Teresa Coquia last year.

Lomibao was implicated for the P100,000 supposed loan of Hernando from the vendors which was never paid.
Several resolutions from the Sangguniang Panlungsod to City Mayor Brian Lim appealing to investigate the reported protection racket when unheeded.

Article 210 of the Revised Pena Code states: “If the object for which the gift was received or promised was to make the public officer refrain from doing something which was his official duty to do, he shall suffer the penalties of prison correctional in its maximum period to prison mayor in its minimum period and a fine not less than three times the value of such gift.” (Leonardo Micua)

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