An 18-year-old woman has sought assistance from Malacañang Palace and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over alleged threats and harassment by individuals linked to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), RH Jecelle Ricafort reported.

Accompanied by her mother, legal counsel, and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) chairman emeritus Atty. Manny Obedoza, the woman identified only by the alias “JP,” appealed to NBI Acting Director Lito Magno for protection.

JP claimed she was still a minor when she was allegedly taken without consent by a group she described as a syndicate and used in an attempt to extort a large sum of money from a Taiwanese businessman in Subic. In a letter to Malacañang, she further alleged that a fabricated rape complaint was filed against the foreign national and that both her and her mother’s signatures were forged.

She said the threats began after she denied in court that she had been raped, a case that was later dismissed.

The NBI assured JP of protection and said it is considering placing her under the Witness Protection Program (WPP). Meanwhile, the SBMA told DZRH News that it has not yet received any documents related to the allegations and has refrained from commenting, adding that it will coordinate with concerned offices once details are made available.