A fixer reportedly related to the city mayor’s wife was arrested during an entrapment operation on Wednesday, August 10, 2016.

Melvin Cericos, 41, married, resident of J.A. Clarin St. attempted to extort P25,000 from Roman Janoyan in exchange for the speedy approval and release of his tricycle franchise.

But instead of delivering on his promise, Cericos demanded an additional P5,000 prompting Janoyan to seek assistance from Jane Yap, the wife of Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap.

Janoyan, 50, a resident of Purok 3, Barangay Dao, learned that Cericos was related to Yap by consanguinity as Cericos’ father is the elder brother of former 2nd District Congressman and Trinidad mayor Roberto Cajes, the father of Jane Yap.

Immediately, Yap sought the assistance of the police leading to the entrapment operation that resulted in the arrest of Cericos after he received from Jandayan the P5,000.

After the arrest, a small packet of suspected shabu was found in the right trouser pocket of Cericos as he was being frisked by Police Officer lll Silvan Palacio at the investigation room of the Tagbilaran City Police Station.

Charges for violation of RA 9165 known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and section 315 (swindling or estafa) of the Revised Penal Code are now being prepared for filing by the police.

Ceniza is now detained at the Tagbilaran City Police Station lock-up jail. (Chito M. Visarra and Rey Tutas)