INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr. yesterday said the arrest of a bogus Palace official tagged as behind a ‘government position and contract for sale’ scheme should serve as a lesson to all name droppers in the country.

The DILG chief lauded the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headed by Brigadier General Romeo M. Caramat Jr. for arresting the suspect identified as Edward Diokno Eje alias’ Edong’ following a three-week manhunt.

Sec. Abalos got mad after learning that his name was being used by the suspect to make his would-be targets believe that he was really connected to high government officials.

Following a complaint from the Palace, it was Sec. Abalos who personally asked the head of the National Capital Region Field Unit of the PNP-CIDG, Colonel Hansel M. Marantan to launch an operation to arrest the suspect two weeks ago, the Journal Group learned.

Col. Marantan confirmed the DILG chief’s order. “He (Sec. Abalos) even called me up thrice just to follow-up after the supposed oath-taking of the victims duped by this bogus Palace official,” the CIDG-NCRFU chief said.

“He told me that he really is an acquaintance of the suspect and nothing more. The fact that his name is also being used by the suspect prompted him to have the latter arrested so that we can give justice to all his victims,” the official said.

Davao City (1st District) Representative Paolo ‘Pulong’ Duterte also lashed at the arrested suspect.

“Finally, an identified Mr. Edward Diokno Eje has now been arrested for fraud and other illegal acts, which include using our family’s name to deceive people to advance his personal interests. The CIDG also gathered the other victims who Mr. Eje swindled through the appointment and government project for sale scam,” the lawmaker said.

“This is to put on record that we are not, in any way, connected with Mr. Eje. We condemn all acts which use our name to ask for money or other favors. While we are faintly acquainted with Mr. Eje’s brother who is a former DOTR Assistant Secretary, we do not have direct contact with them regarding any endeavor.

Let this serve as a reminder, more so as a warning, to all those who intend to use my name or my family’s name for their own benefit. We will certainly and immediately take legal action against these people. Stop whatever you are scheming—your days are numbered,” the lawmaker said in a Facebook post.

The suspect was accused of masterminding a lucrative ‘government position and contracts for sale’ during the past Dueterte presidency and the current Marcos administration.

He was suspected to have gypped dozens of moneyed people including celebrities of nearly P1 billion, with one of his victims alone claiming to have been duped of P350 million in exchange for a juicy Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office contract.

The suspect was found posing as ‘Undersecretary Vincent Diokno’ and Protocol Officer of the Office of the President when he was arrested on Monday.

PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. said that Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Sec. Abalos ordered the investigation of Eje’s illegal activities.

Last January 27, eight of the ‘victims’ of the suspects went to the Presidential Palace after receiving a letter from one ‘Undersecretary Eduardo Diokno’ and a certain ‘Assistant Secretary Johnson See’ advising them that they will be having their ‘oath-taking’ before President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr.

It turned out that no oath-taking was scheduled on that date and that the letter presented by the victims bore the forged signature of ES Bersamin.

Those who paid huge amount of money were supposed to be appointed to the following positions: President/Chief Executive Officer of Clark International Airport Corporation; Director, Clark Development Corp.; Executive Director and Vice-Chairperson, ECCD Council; Ambassador to Netherlands; Board Member, Clark Development Corporation; Assistant Secretary for Maritime, DoTR; Board Member, Tourism Infrastructure Zone Authority; and Port Manager, Batangas Port.

Among those who filed complaints against the accused were Dr. Marichi Ramos and Edmund Datuin, said to have been swindled of some P300 million in exchange for a PCSO license; Mr. Rudy Ngo, swindled of P43.5 million for the lease of HK Sun Plaza; Mr. Jun Sevilla, swindled of P4 million; actresses Miley Ang and Gwen Garci, swindled of P1 million each, actress Rosana Roces, swindled of P3 million; actress Maui Taylor, swindled of P1 million; actress Jennifer Lee, swindled of P1 million; and Javier, Leyte Vice Governor Sandy Javier.