Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo answers questions from media during a briefing held at the Malacañang New Executive Building on October 25, 2018. INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC
MANILA, Philippines — A man who posed online as Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo was arrested by authorities in an entrapment operation, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said.
The NBI said Jose Villafuerte created a Facebook account which he made to appear as that of the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel (OCPLC).
Villafuerte allegedly posted on his site legal updates and announcements copied from the official OCPLC account.
The NBI set an entrapment operation after the OCPLC wrote the bureau and asked for an investigation into the poser account, which used the name, photos and identity of Panelo.
An investigation found that Villafuerte made it appear that the fake account was maintained by the OCPLC and led by Panelo as photos of the Palace official were posted on its wall.
The NBI noted that several people interacted with the fake account by asking for favors and making inquiries that only Panelo was authorized to answer.
The poser account was allegedly used to demand money from people, claiming the funds would be used for projects initiated by the Presidential spokesperson.
Using the name “Henry Tan,” an NBI operative was reportedly able to chat with Villafuerte on the fake account
Villafuerte, posing as Panelo, allegedly demanded money which would be used for a rehabilitation project for typhoon victims in Naga City.
The suspect allegedly promised lucrative contracts with the Department of Health in exchange for the money.
An entrapment operation was hatched when the NBI agent agreed to meet Villafuerte in Cebu City on Feb. 21, 2019, to hand over P500,000.
A record check by the NBI showed that the suspect was facing several qualified theft and estafa charges in various regional trial courts.
Villafuerte is facing charges for computer-related identity theft, obstruction of justice, unlawful use of alias, use of falsified documents, falsification of public documents, usurpation of authority or official functions, and use of fictitious name concealing true name. /cbb