POLICE arrested on Monday, July 30, a woman for extortion after she allegedly threatened another woman who had allegedly contracted her to perform witchcraft and make a love potion.
Jhane Mendoza, 29, was arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by the National Capital Region Police Office - Regional Special Operation Unit in a fast food store in Valenzuela City at around 3:20 p.m. on Monday.
NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar said Mendoza will be charged for violation of robbery extortion with intimidation in relation to Article 316 (Other forms of Swindling) paragraph 5 of Revised Penal Code.
Eleazar said the operation stemmed from a complaint from Bernadette San Juan, 27, from Pasay City.
In her statement taken by the police, San Juan said Mendoza had threatened to have her arrested for failing to pay P50,000 as balance for Mendoza's fees for doing witchcraft and making a love potion.
San Juan said she had posted on social media her desire to reunite with her former boyfriend, who had broken up with her.
Mendoza allegedly commented on her post that she knew someone who can help her.
Through a series of private messages, San Juan said she agreed to pay Mendoza for a love potion and some witchcraft that would lure her boyfriend back.
The potion, however, did not work and San Juan did not get her boyfriend back.
In just one month, San Juan said she paid Mendoza a total of P66,675.66 for her services.
On July 28, San Juan said Mendoza demanded another P80,000 as payment for the ritual and threatened to have her arrested or kill her and her boyfriend using witchcraft.
“Feeling helpless and threatened, and apparently sensing that everything is all for show, the complainant decided to seek assistance from Regional Special Operation Unit (RSOU) - NCRPO that resulted to the successful arrest of Mendoza,” said Eleazar.
Mendoza was placed under the custody of RSOU-NCRPO for proper disposition of the case.
She will be referred for inquest proceedings before the Valenzuela City Prosecutor’s Office.
Mendoza is a native of Calamba City in Laguna and a one-time resident of Urdaneta, Pangasinan, but is presently residing in Valenzuela City, Metro Manila. (SunStar Philippines)