CIDG bags 2 BFP ‘impostors’ for extortion
TWO men posing as “representatives” of Bureau of Fire Region 3 Director Fire Chief Superintendent Roderick Aguto to “extort” money from their targets were arrested by undercover officers of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in an entrapment operation in Rodriguez, Rizal on Thursday, the Journal Group learned.
The two fake BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection) personnel were placed under arrest while in the act of claiming the money sent by their latest victim to a Palawan Express branch in Barangay San Isidro in Rodriguez municipality Thursday, said PNP-CIDG Director Brigadier General Ronald O. Lee.
According to the official, the CIDG Rizal Provincial Field Unit (PFU) investigated the two following a complaint from a man who claimed that one of the suspects solicited money from him, the money supposedly to be used in a shoot fest in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
The complainant said he initially sent P30,000 to the suspects thru Palawan Express.
However, he later discovered from the fire official that the suspects were unknown to him.
When one of the suspects phoned him to ask for more money for the same activity, the CIDG Rizal launched the sting.
One of the suspects was arrested while claiming the money sent again by the complainant. The other suspect was apprehended while trying to flee the scene.
Recovered from his possession was a Palawan Express tracking number.
Lee said that the Rizal CIDG had received information that the prime suspect was the leader of an organized crime group involved in syndicated estafa, robbery-extortion, and proliferation of loose firearms in Rodriguez municipality.
The two suspects are now locked up at the CIDG Rizal jail, facing criminal charges.
Following the duo’s arrest, Lee reminded the public anew to thoroughly verify the identities of persons they are dealing with, especially if their transaction involves money.
“Don’t be fooled easily by pitiful dramas because that is part of their tactics to earn money from their victims. However, we at the CIDG are ready to put a stop to these scams,” the official said.
