NBI nabs man who claimed to be connected to Bong Go to extort money

MANILA, Philippines — Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have arrested a man who allegedly claimed to be connected to Senator Christopher “Bong” Go to extort money from businessmen and private individuals.

NBI officer-in-charge Eric Distor on Thursday identified the suspect as John Carlos Pedragosa Garcia.

According to Distor, the NBI-Special Operations Group (SOG) launched an operation against Garcia following a complaint from one of his victims alleging that Garcia “introduced himself to be connected to Senator Go and was able to dupe prominent businessmen and private individuals from Albay, Laguna, Quezon and Rizal in various amounts totaling P6M.”

Distor said that on February 24, NBI-SOG operatives interviewed one of the victims who narrated that he was duped by Garcia for an amount of P50,000. The victim also relayed to the operatives the names of other individuals who were victimized by the suspect.

On February 25, NBI operatives then proceeded to San Pablo, Laguna and met with another victim who stated in her affidavit that her friend offered her a project for the construction of a facility. She was told that the facility was supposed to be used for the operation of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Corporation in Buhatan in Sto. Domingo, Albay.

Distor said the victim accepted the offer and was introduced to Garcia. Garcia then allegedly told her that the secretary of Senator Go, supposedly named Geraldyne Riano, is his friend.

Distor said Garcia demanded from the victim a total amount of P1 million as advance payment for the project in Albay and Malunay, Quezon.

He added that Garcia promised the victim that he will arrange a meeting between her and Senator Go. The meeting, however, did not happen.

According to Distor, the victim went to the office of Go and was surprised to learn that Riano and Garcia are not employees of the senator. He added that another victim revealed that Garcia bought from her a Suzuki Ertiga car and issued a check amounting to P250,000.00 as initial payment but the check was not honored by the bank.

Distor said a record check on Garcia showed that he has a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court of Mandaluyong City for two counts of estafa.

On March 10, Garcia was located in a resort in Bolinao, Pangasinan using the car he purchased from one of his victims. NBI-SOG, armed with an arrest warrant, then proceeded to the resort and immediately apprehended him.

Garcia was brought to the NBI office following his arrest.

JE