Scammers using name of Davao mayor to solicit funds

THE Davao City government thanked and commended the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) for the arrest of scammers who used the name of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in illegal activities.

In a statement released by the Davao Public Information Office, Mayor Sara was thankful to the efforts of the NCRPO to capture members of an organized crime group of scammers.

The group was allegedly behind the illegal solicitation of campaign funds for the candidacy of Mayor Sara Duterte in 2021.

The scammers presented themselves as Davao City hall officials to unsuspecting contractors and businessmen to solicit money.

Based on the report by NCRPO, the suspects surrendered to NCRPO on July 30, 2021.

The suspects were identified as Patrick Orinio Cerbito, Ramon Segundo, Antonio Cerbito, and Antonio Segundo, who are members of the Cerbito-Hernandez Organized Group.

It can be recalled that Mayor Sara called on the attention of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the public against individuals who are using her name to solicit funds allegedly to use for his presidential campaign.

The presidential daughter vehemently denied link to this group and clarified that she never asked any person or group to look for funds for her possible candidacy.

Initial report reaching the Mayor Sara’s office, there are government employees or private individuals asking contractors or businessmen to give money as contributions and there are individuals claiming to be in charge of fund-raising and requesting money from contractors or businessmen to be given through them; and there are individuals pretending to be employees of the City Government of Davao calling contractors and businessmen for money contributions.

“Please be warned that there is no fund-raising activity or campaign money solicitation for my benefit. All these activities are unauthorized and without my permission,” Mayor Sara said in a previous statement.

She asked the public not to give money or any other donation to these individuals and to immediately report this to the police.

NCRPO tracking down fake Sara supporters in big-time scam Meanwhile, NCRPO director Major General Vicente D. Danao Jr. said they are tracking down a group of big-time scammers in Metro Manila using the name of Mayor Sarah to solicit money.

Danao ordered the probe amid an information from the Davao City Police Office headed by Colonel Kirby John B. Kraft and the Police Regional Office 4-A under Brigadier Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz regarding the presence of some individuals claiming to be senior government officials and offering favors and various forms of assistance from their praise in exchange for money.

“Ginagamit po nila ang pangalan ni Ma’am Sarah para mangolekta ng pondo for the incoming national election although it is not true. So we encourage others to please come out in the open para po we can file another case against the suspects,” the official said.

Danao said a member of the group has surrendered to the NCRPO and is now undergoing investigation for involvement in the scam.

The group was found to be soliciting money from their targets allegedly to help fund Mayor Duterte’s campaign in 2022. They have promised their victims they would be given favors and other forms of government assistance once they have deposited money to various RCBC and Philippine National Bank accounts under the name of the following: Kristian Acero, Rezelyn Nemenzo and Richard Yu.

Danao said that the suspects were using the mobile phone numbers 09260241365 and claiming it was the personal number of Davao City assistant city administrator, Attorney Tristan Dwight Domingo to communicate with their targets thru Viber, Facebook, text messages and phone calls.

The official said that the suspects have called contractors and suppliers in Davao, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Laguna, Quezon, Negros Oriental, Cabanatuan City, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Cagayan and Leyte provinces, and Baguio City.

Danao said that the scammers are so organized that they even have their own “researchers, callers and receivers.”

He identified the leaders of the group who are now being hunted as Patrick Orinio Cerbito alias ‘Patrick Fernandez,’ Ramon Segundo, Antonio Cerbito alias ‘Duds’ and Anthony Segundo alias’ Papsie.’

Danao said that around 209 government officials and other private persons and companies have been targeted for extortion by the syndicate.

He added that in one instance, members of the syndicate contacted the owner of the MTP Marine Services, a manufacturer of pleasure boats, sail boards and accessories based in Bauan, Batangas.

A member of the ring posed as the general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority and told the MTP owner he can get ‘juicy contracts’ from them in exchange for a huge amount of money.

“This is a clear case of syndicated estafa and the NCRPO is trying its best to track down the members of the organized criminal group,” said Danao.

The official called on the public to maintain their vigilance and be cautious in dealing with persons online especially when money is involved to prevent them from falling victims to online scammers.

“Lubos pong nakakabahala ang paglaganap ng ganitong sindikato na ang target po ay ang mga mamumuhunan, mga tao sa gobyerno at iba pang pribadong indibidwal at negosyo na maglagak ng pera para sa mga pangako ng tulong o iba pang uri ng pabor sa kanikanilang mga transaksyon. Hinihikayat po namin ang lahat na maging mapanuri at maingat upang hindi maging biktima ng mga grupong ito, “Danao said. With Alfred Dalizon