OPERATIVES of the National Bureau of Investigation have apprehended a former municipal councilor in Albay for allegedly extorting P320,000 from a quarry operator in exchange for processing an ore transport permit (OTP)
The NBI identified the suspect as John Mabini Bron, a former municipal councilor of Tiwi town, who was arrested on August 8, 2025.
Bron, who placed 15th in the 2025 municipal elections under the PDP-Laban party in Tiwi, Albay, is now facing charges of robbery and extortion.
The operation that led to Bron’s arrest was carried out by the NBI’s Legazpi and Naga offices after receiving a complaint from James Juan Cochangco Ruiz, a quarry operator in Albay, about a series of extortion demands.
According to the complainant, Bron, through alleged middlemen from the provincial environment office, demanded a total of P320,000 from Ruiz in exchange for expediting the OTP, which was required for his quarry operations.
Bron allegedly asked for P655,100 in “SOP” for processing the OTP, which was to be paid in installments.
Despite an initial attempt at an entrapment operation, which was called off when the suspect rescheduled the meeting, the NBI managed to carry out a successful operation on August 8 after receiving confirmation that the payment would take place.
