Member of scam group that used Sara Duterte’s name yields – NCRPO
MANILA, Philippines — A member of the Cerbito-Fernandez scam group – which targets government officials, investors and private individuals – has surrendered, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Wednesday.
According to NCRPO chief PMGen. Vicente Danao Jr, the unnamed individual, who fraudulently used Davao Cty Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s name, surrendered last June 30.
Danao said the scammers posed as government officials and offered various forms of assistance in exchange for money, which they deposited into various bank accounts under the names “Kristian Acero, Rezelyn Nemenzo and Richard Yu.”
In Duterte-Carpio’s case, the scammer solicited money under the guise of raising funds for Sara Duterte’s campaign and logistics for the national election.
The phone number used for communication belonged to a lawyer who works for a local city government, police said.
Police said it was used in contacting contractors and suppliers through Viber, Facebook, SMS and phone calls in Davao, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Laguna, Quezon, Negros Oriental, Cabanatuan City, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Leyte, and Baguio.
“This crime group was so organized that their selected members have an individual task assigned to them such as researchers, callers and receivers,” said Danao.
Danao identified the alleged leaders as Patrick Cerbito, Patrick Fernandez, Ramon Secundo and Antonio Cerbito.
The scammers targeted around 209 government officials, private companies, and other private individuals, according to the investigation.
Danao said in one case, the owner of a marine service company in Batangas was contacted by a scammer from the Cerbito-Fernandez gang pretending to be the general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority, offering help in his contracts.
According to Danao, this was a clear case of syndicated estafa and the NCRPO was doing all it could to track down the criminals.
“Lubos pong nakakabahala ang paglaganap ng ganitong sindikato na ang target po ay ang mga mamumuhunan, mga tao sa gobyerno at iba pang pribadong indibidwal at negosyo na maglagak ng pera para sa mga pangako ng tulong o iba pang uri ng pabor sa kanikanilang mga transaksyon. Hinihikayat po namin ang lahat na maging mapanuri at maingat upang hindi maging biktima ng mga grupong ito,” said Danao.
(The proliferation of such a syndicate that targets investors, government people and other private individuals and businesses who deposit money for promises of assistance or other forms of favor in their transactions is very disturbing. We encourage everyone to be critical and careful not to fall prey to these groups.)
He then appealed to the other members of the syndicate to surrender, saying the police would do everything in their power to arrest them as soon as possible.
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