A Chinese businessman was arrested in an entrapment operation for hoarding P4 million worth of ethyl alcohol, masks, and other medical supplies, yesterday afternoon in Caloocan City.
Caloocan Police Chief P / Col. Dario Menor arrested Robin Merenda Siwa, 32, of Brgy. 78, Caloocan City.
According to the report, Caloocan Police Station Investigation and Detective Management Division personnel launched the entrapment operation at around 2:30 pm at Siwa’s home.
A police officer who posed as a poseur-buyer was able to buy two gallons of alcohol from the suspect in exchange for P2,000 marked money.
When the poseur-buyer signaled that the money had been handed, the back-up operatives immediately rushed and caught Siwa at his apartment. Police discovered the Chinese trader is hoarding P4 million worth of medical supplies.
Business Permit and Licensing Office’s (BPLO) verification revealed that Siwa had no business permit to sell alcohol and medical products.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident while the case against the suspect is being prepared.
Also read: 2 Chinese clinics, unregistered COVID-19 medicines stockroom raided
Radio reporter dead in ambush
A radio reporter was killed after riding in tandem ambushed him in Dumaguete City.
The victim was identified as Cornelio Pepino, aka “Rex Cornelio,” 48, a reporter/announcer of DYMD Energy FM in Sibulan Boloc-boloc, Negros Oriental.
The shooting happened at 8:30 pm at Villa Amada, North Road Brgy. Daro, Dumaguete City.
Pepino was on a motorcycle with his wife and was on their way home from the radio station.
The victim did not notice that the riding in tandem was already following them.
When they arrived at the said place, the suspects shot Pepino in different parts of the body.
The victim was rushed to Siliman University Medical Center but died on his way to the hospital.
Authorities are investigating whether the shooting involved the victim’s work.
Pepino, whose killing comes only two days after World Press Freedom Day, is the third radio journalist to be murdered in Dumaguete City since 2018.
Another radio broadcaster Dindo Generoso was shot dead, also by riding-in-tandem gunmen, in November 2019. Edmund Sestoso, meanwhile, was shot dead in April 2018.
An Inquirer.net report revealed Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo sued Pepino for libel, but he was acquitted in 2017.