MANILA, Philippines — Another scammer posing as Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was arrested by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
NCRPO chief Major General Vicente Danao Jr. on Thursday said the scammer uses Duterte-Carpio’s name to solicit money for her 2022 campaign.
The point of interest, a Cerbito-Fernandez Organized Crime Group member, surrendered to the NCRPO on June 30 after a strategic operation.
The group is reportedly led by Patrick Orinio Cerbito also known as Patrick Fernandez, Ramon Segundo, Antonio Cerbito, and Anthony Segundo.
According to Danao, the scammer pretends to be Davao City Assistant Administrator Tristan Dwight Domingo.
He uses the phone number 09260241365 to solicit funds that were deposited to bank accounts under the names of a certain Kristian Acero, Rezelyn Nemenzo, and Richard Yu.
The operation came after Davao City Police Office Director Colonel Kirby John Craft reported a scam involving people, who claim to be senior government officials, offering assistance in exchange for money to allegedly raise funds for humanitarian projects.
Based on the investigation, the group works across the country or has targeted 209 more government officials and private firms.
The scammers use texting, calling, Viber, and Facebook messenger to collect and raise money for the approaching 2022 polls.
With their arrest, the suspects face syndicated estafa punishable under Presidential Decree 1689 Section 1 in relation to Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code.
For her part, the Davao City Public Information Office said that Duterte-Carpio was thankful for the NCRPO’s efforts to arrest the impostors who used her name in illegal acts.
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