Episode 11

Col. Antigua excused himself to call the Regional Director.

Lt. Col. de la Cruz: Maybe this goes back, further back, which is why I brought you guys in. This is as far as I think we can take, initially of course. And this is with respect to Cyber Crime only. Oh one more thing, we need all of their cellphones. I want them all in ASAP. Let us start with Claudia Ylaya first, now that we have her in custody.

Col. Antigua goes back to his seat.

Col. Antigua: The RD has ordered verbally that I take direct authority on this case. However, I am not doing this under my office but RIID. CIID has no direct control over Kris General Directorate. I will be under the office of RIID for the duration of the task force.

Col. Mantalaba: Did you get what you wanted? Col. Antigua.

Lt. Col. de la Cruz: The RD texted, and wants a video call in a bit. Can we all sit back down? Nuñez, have someone bring the laptop in, just make sure that he can see all of us.

Lt. Col. de la Cruz’s table now has a small narrow table perpendicular to his table. It’s length is about three seats on each side. In a way it has become a mini conference room. Opposite to him his men placed a small table where the laptop is and extra speakers.

The conversation was more of a formality and a few requests from the other officers on how to proceed with the investigation.

Synod Community Hall

Bae Asuna arrives to see the Datu. Who seems to be lounging around his chair relaxed.

Bae Asuna: Hello Dinah, I see our Datu is rather relaxed today is he?

Dinah: I’ll see if he wants to talk to you?

Dinah walks into the Datu's office.

Datu Paul: Let her in.

Bae Asuna smiling as she enters her former office.

Bae Asuna: Thanks for seeing me in such a short notice, Datu Paul.

Datu Paul: Short? There is nothing short about that you are a walk in. What do you want?

His guest seated herself.

Bae Asuna: Oh you know I have something for you.

She placed a small dark back paper bag on his lap. Then she sits back down.

Datu Paul: What is in it?

Bae Asuna: It’s a surprise. Common humor me.

With a strange leer, she makes another smile.

Datu Paul obliges, and takes out a black laced panty with both of his hands.

Bae Asuna takes a quick photo. It looks like he is smelling the panties from the angle in the photo.

Datu Paul: You’ve got to be kidding me right? You're sick. Why do you want me to give me your panties? What makes you think I want it.

He puts it back.

Bae Asuna: You know I could send this to the cops and tell them another story about you and the poor dead Jenny.

Datu Paul: Did you take evidence from the crime scene?

Bae Asuna: I did not, you did? Do I have it? No, but you?

Datu Paul: You bastard!

Bae Asuna: And I have it all in here.

Datu Paul: You think this is going to work? The cops won’t believe you. I’d say it’s blackmail.

Bae Asuna: Oh, I don’t need the cops for this to work.

She sends him the photo she took.

Datu Paul: You are sick are you?

Camp Maxim

Meanwhile at Camp Maxim the commanders from the different units have left, and Lt. Col. de la Cruz

Lt. Col. de la Cruz: Edwin, I think you should go to the community hall.

Lt. Berdin: What do you want me to ask?

Lt. Col de la Cruz: I don’t know, volunteer their cellphones in. Or who are the parties involved in Councilman Tan’s complaint. Is there a hearing at the Community level or anything.

Lt. Berdin: I’ll start with the complaint, like Col. Montalaba says talk to the Datu himself.

Lt. Col. de la Cruz: I’ll have Lt. Herasta prep the case files and two more guys to join you at Kris Directorate, take Ramirez with you. I’m afraid training is off the table for now.

Lt. Berdin salutes as he gets saluted back by his boss. He leaves with Officer Ramirez.

Synod Community Hall

Lt. Berdin and Officer Ramirez arrive at the Synod Community Hall, as they enter the Datu’s office, they see the former Community Datu Bae Asuna and Datu Paul.

Lt. Berdin: Lt. Berdin, Officer Ramirez. We’d like to talk to the Datu please.

Dinah: Obviously he has a visitor right now.

Officer Ramirez: I don’t think it will be necessary Lt., let’s get it in, you might want to talk to them now.

Lt. Berdin: It is alright miss, we need to talk to them, both of them anyway.

Both officers went inside the office.

Officer Ramirez: Blackmail does not work you know.

Bae Asuna turns her head to see who the voice was. Her jaws drop, and the happy smiling face disappears. Her eyes widened, and she became pale.

Officer Ramirez stares at Bae Asuna. He is skinny, tall and a good looking man, he is well groomed. He looks smart in his uniform for a low ranked policeman, he is as sharp as an officer. Lt. Berdin follows him, he is not tall quite the opposite of Ramirez, but his bearing and the way he carries himself, pure confidence and authority.

Lt. Berdin: Lt. Berdin, this is Officer Ramirez, I am a Detective Inspector with the Cybercrime Unit.

Datu Paul: Cybercrime, finally you guys arrived, she just tried to black mail me.

Officer Ramirez took out his white handkerchief and unfolded them with his palms open.

Bae Asuna: Are you suggesting that I hand over my smartphone? That is not going to happen.

Lt. Berdin: Datu, did we just catch a crime in progress here?

Datu Paul: Yes, yes, here she took a photo of me with a panty she gave. She even said it is from Jenny Lynn Villamar.

Lt. Berdin: Wonderful more headaches. We are going to take your smartphones for evidence. And you’ll need to fill out some forms. So who is she Datu? What is she to you?

Datu Paul: She is my enemy, I defeated her during the last elections. She is Bae Asuna.

Lt. Berdin turns to Bae Asuna.

Lt. Berdin: I suggest you turn your phone over to Officer Ramirez. We are in our right to confiscate them for evidence.

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