Gesulgon

MEMORANDUM **

Alicia Gesulgani Gesulgon, a native and citizen of the Philippines, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ decision summarily affirming an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) order denying her application for asylum. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . Reviewing for substantial evidence, see Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1244 (9th Cir.2000), we deny the petition for review.

Gesulgon testified that leading up to her departure from the Philippines in 1987, members of a guerilla organization attempted to recruit her, extorted money from her, and threatened her if she did not continue to pay them. Gesulgon testified that she fears returning to the Philippines because members of the guerillas may still think she has money, and may continue to demand payments from her. Because Gesulgon presented no evidence that this extortion or attempted recruitment was on account of a protected ground, substantial evidence supports the IJ’s determination that she failed to establish past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution. See Pedro-Mateo v. INS, 224 F.3d 1147, 1151 (9th Cir.2000) (guerilla organization’s attempts to forcibly recruit a…