CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga - Government agents arrested an extortionist who introduced as a member of the New People's Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (NPA-ABB) during an entrapment operation inside the compound of Carmelita Monastery in Angeles City Friday.

Senior Superintendent Marvin Bolabola, regional chief of the 3rd Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (3CIDU), identified the suspect as Noel Bautista Santos, 41, a resident of Purok 3, Barangay Del Rosario, City of San Fernando.

Santos did not resist arrest when accosted by lawmen after he received the cash and bagful of groceries from a courier sent by a lady government official whom the "rebel" tried to extort.

Bolabola said his men led by Inspector Lamberto Andasan set the entrapment against the suspect after Asuncion Florentin, the officer-in-charge of the Department of Foreign Affairs stationed in Clark Freeport, sought their help.

Florentin told 3CIDU investigators that the suspect called her officer and introduced himself as an NPA-ABB member and demanded P150,000.00 in exchange for her family's safety and lives.

She said the caller also threatened to harm her if she refused to heed his demand and if she reported the matter to authorities.

For fear of her lives and safety of family, Florentin negotiated with the suspects to lower the demand and later agreed to P100,000 on condition that she will bring with her two bags full of canned goods.

The DFA official said she was instructed by the suspect to bring the cash and food stuff at the compound of Carmelite Monastery on Thursday at around 2 p.m. as someone would be sent to pick it up.

Bolabola said this prompted his men led by Andasan to launch entrapment operations against the suspect.

Bolabola said 3CIDU agents were deployed ahead of the scheduled time and waited for the suspect to emerge. Moments later, a man clad in white shirt and blue jeans approached Florentin's courier and asked for the cash and bags of groceries.

The man was immediately arrested and brought to 3CIDU headquarters for further interrogation. Robbery and extortion charges have been filed before the Angeles City prosecutors office against the suspect.-Jess Malabanan.