Guimaras gubernatorial bet, 3 others nabbed for gun ban violation, swindling
PHILIPPINE National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director (PNP-CIDG) newly-promoted Maj. Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III yesterday announced the arrest of a gubernatorial candidate in Guimaras province and three others for violation of the gun ban law and swindling/estafa.
In a report to PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, the PNP-CIDG director said that the candidate identified only as “Magie” also posed as a cousin of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to pressure their victims.
“This is part of our all-out effort to go after swindlers and scammers during the election period as ordered by Gen. Marbil,” Torre said.
The official said that around 4 p.m. Tuesday, undercover officers from the CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit, joined by members of the Office of Special Envoy on Transnational Crime, the Police Regional Office 6 Special Operations Group and the Guimaras Police Provincial Office arrested the suspects in an entrapment operation in Bgy. Sabang in Sibunag, Guimaras.
He said that arrested during the sting were “Magie” and one “Cayetano,” who are now facing charges for swindling/estafa.
Also arrested during the operation were two non-commissioned officers of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) identified only as “ASN Marwin” and “SN2 Rico,” who were found escorting the two swindling suspects.
The two PCG personnel are facing charges for violation of the Omnibus Election Code after they yielded two cal.. 45 pistols without gun ban exemption papers.
Torre said that the operation was conducted after they validated an information that “Magie,” by means of deceit and false pretenses has misrepresented herself to possess influence over the approval of government projects in Guimaras, specifically the Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (PMVIC) emission testing application, with the Department of the Transportation (DOTr) for a fee of P800,000 to P1 million.
The suspect also allegedly claimed to be a cousin of the First Lady when she met the complainant, the PNP-CIDG said.
Last September 26, the complainant made a P400,000 advance payment to the suspect to secure the emission testing project.
However, after delivering the money, the respondent failed to fulfill her promise and despite repeated personal requests through mutual friends, she failed and refused to return the money or show proof of payments.
On the first week of February, “Maggie” again contacted the complainant asking him to meet her and pay an additional P400,000 to expedite the proposed project. The suspect set the meeting in her residence in Guimaras island last Monday.
However, the complainant said he verified with the DOTr and confirmed that “Maggie” has no connection with the agency, prompting him to seek the help of the PNP-CIDG in arresting the suspect.
Torre said that during the entrapment, the two accused were caught in the act of receiving the P400,000 topped by a marked bill from the complainant.
The two suspects are facing criminal complaints for violation of Article 315 (Estafa/Swindling) of the Revised Penal Code before the Guimaras Prosecutor’s Office.
