BAGUIO CITY – A 26-year-old jobless woman, who had been posing as an employee of a local radio station here, was arrested by policemen after dozens of individuals filed extortion charges against her before the local police on Tuesday afternoon.
Chief Supt. Eugene G. Martin, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera, identified the suspect as Rowena Bauit Caronan, alias “Michelle Lueng” or “Michelle de Guzman,” 26, a native of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, and a resident of Kilometer 3, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Initial investigation showed that Caronan has been introducing herself as an employee of Bombo Radyo Baguio so she could get free goods and cash from owners of stores and mini-marts.
The suspect promised the store owners that she will pay her debts as soon as she receives her bonus from the said radio station.
However, after a long period of time, Caronan failed to settle her obligations prompting a number of victims to file separate complaints against her before the police. She is now facing charges for estafa and usurpation of authority.