ZAMBOANGA CITY — A 20-year-old woman allegedly involved in an extortion scheme targeting men in uniform was arrested in a joint entrapment operation led by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Region 9 on Friday.
Authorities identified the suspect as Balquis Aidarus Alih, also known by the alias “Bai.” She was apprehended following a complaint filed by a Philippine Coast Guard member whom she allegedly tried to extort in exchange for withdrawing a fabricated rape accusation.
According to investigators, Alih’s modus operandi involved befriending and arranging consensual meet-ups with uniformed personnel. After the encounter, she would allegedly threaten to file a rape case unless the victim paid her ₱100,000 to “settle” the matter.
The NBI, backed by the Internal Affairs Unit–South Western Mindanao (IAU-SWM), Coast Guard Sub-Station Zamboanga, Coast Guard Intelligence Group–SWM, Coast Guard Investigation Division–SWM, and Intelligence Detection Unit–SWM, launched a surveillance and entrapment operation after confirming the victim’s report. Alih was arrested after she allegedly received the marked money.
She now faces charges for violating Article 293 in relation to Article 294 of the Revised Penal Code, which covers robbery and extortion through intimidation or threats.
The Coast Guard Internal Affairs Office issued a warning to all uniformed personnel, urging them to remain vigilant against schemes exploiting fabricated accusations for monetary gain.
Authorities said further investigation is underway to determine if Alih had victimized other members of the security sector.