Benhur Abalos

Impostor DILG chief’s staff arrested for extortion

December 12, 2023 Alfred P. Dalizon 385 views

POLICEMEN in Lingayen, Pangasinan arrested a man who introduced himself as a staff of Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. to extort money from local government officials.

Edison Montealto, 27, was monitored to have been calling or texting governors and mayors and introducing himself as a staff of Sec. Abalos.

He would later tell the officials that the DILG chief’s office is requesting their financial help to provide free rice to the ‘poorest of the poor’ in their areas.

The suspect’s illegal activity reached the office of the DILG chief, thus prompting authorities to arrest the poseur who demands P50,000 from his targets.

During the sting, the suspect was placed under arrest after he took the marked bills from an undercover officer. He is now facing criminal charges for syndicated estafa by means of deceit and violation, violation under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

DILG Sec. Abalos said he has not authorized anybody to solicit money from local government officials and other individuals.

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