Suspect believed to have duped victims of P1B via ‘gov’t positions, contracts for sale scheme’

A MAN accused of masterminding a lucrative ‘government position and contracts for sale scheme’ has been arrested, officials told the Journal Group on Tuesday.

The suspect is believed to have gypped dozens of moneyed people including celebrities of nearly P1 billion, with one of his victims claiming to have been duped of P350 million in exchange for a Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) contract.

Suspect Edward Diokno Eje alias ‘Edong’ was found posing as ‘Undersecretary Vincent Diokno’ and Protocol Officer when arrested on Monday.

Agents of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) tracked down the suspect with the help of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) along 31st Street in BGC, Taguig City, said PNP-CIDG director, Brigadier General Romeo M. Caramat Jr.
Brig. Gen. Caramat said members of the CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit led by Colonel Hansel M. Marantan apprehended the fake Malacañang official who was found to be a resident of Cherry Homes, Bacoor City in Cavite.

The arrest of the suspect came after the PAOCC, thru its Executive Director Gilbert DC Cruz sought the assistance of the CIDG-NCRFU in arresting the latter for his role in a ‘government position for sale’ and ‘government contract for sale’ scheme.

“We don’t tolerate such illegal activity. There’s no need to pay just to be appointed to the government, or get a government contract. Hindi kailangang magbayad,” said Cruz, a retired police two-star general.

The suspect was found to be posing as ‘very close’ to high-ranking government officials.

“All officials denied the suspect’s claim and called for his arrest and prosecution to the hilt. The suspect was also found to be employing civilians whom he is asking to wear shirts with ‘Police’ markings’ to make it appear he is a government official with bodyguards,” Col. Marantan said.

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.’

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.

The fake December 5, 2022 letter bore the seal of Malacañang Palace and the forged signature of ES Bersamin.

It said “As one of his recently appointees for executive positions of various government agencies, His Excellently expects the honorable presence of you. Please observe formally and punctuality (sic).”

Those who paid huge amounts 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, allegedly swindled of some P300 million in exchange for a PCSO license; Rudy Ngo, allegedly swindled of P43.5 million for the lease of HK Sun Plaza; Jun Sevilla, allegedly swindled of P4 million; actresses Miley Ang and Gwen Garci, allegedly swindled of P1 million each, actress Rosana Roces, allegedly swindled of P3 million; actress Maui Taylor, allegedly swindled of P1 million; actress Jennifer Lee, allegedly swindled of P1 million; and Javier, Leyte Vice Governor Sandy Javier.

Roces said that she and her partner lost a total of P3.5 million to the suspect who convinced them to invest in a manpower business at the Parañaque City Hall. The actress said the suspect earned their confidence after he showed up in their meetings riding in luxury vehicles and making them believe he was really ‘very rich, powerful and influential.’

“Namedropper po siya. Tapos tatawag sa mga congressman sa harap namin,” said Garci.

Another complainant said they lost a total of P350 million to the suspect who promised him and his friends to get the ‘Blackout’ contract from the PCSO only to be told that the permit presented to them was a fake.

An angry ES Bersamin ordered the PAOCC which he chairs to thoroughly investigate the incident and ask the assistance of the PNP-CIDG in arresting the people behind the scheme.

Col. Marantan said their investigation showed that the suspect and one ‘Johnson Borja See’ were behind the January 27 incident.

Following nearly two weeks of patient sleuthing, the CIDG-NCRFU received a report about a man who pointed his gun to a motorcycle rider along 31st Street in BGC, Taguig City.

When a CIDG-NCRFU team rushed to the scene to investigate, they chanced upon the suspect who yielded one unlicensed firearm.

Col. Marantan said that after learning of the arrest of Diokno, more than a dozen complainants appeared before their Camp Crame office and gave formal statements against the suspect.

The official said they also discovered that See is the subject of at least seven criminal cases for swindling/estafa, malicious mischief and grave threats, two of which have already been dismissed in 2017.

“We are now conducting a deeper investigation to determine the other cohorts of the suspects,” said Brig. Gen. Caramat.

Initially, cases for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 will be filed against the accused before a Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office.

Diokno is a racehorse owner and known in the local racehorse industry as ‘Don Edong’ Diokno and as the ‘King of Baclaran’ (‘Hari ng Baclaran’).

Cruz, in a talk with this reporter, said Diokno made a lot of money, “more or less, P800 million” by misrepresenting himself as being close to the powers-that-be in Malacañang, dating back to “previous administrations.”

During the 2021 Presidential Gold Cup held last December 12, 2021, Diokno’s winning horse, ‘Skyshot’ was stripped of its win and its jockey, FM Raquel, suspended by the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) over the protest of cheating filed by Sandy Javier, another horse owner. By ALFRED DALIZON & PAUL M. GUTIERREZ