Couple that used Mar Roxas’s name hunted

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. has ordered a manhunt for a couple who allegedly ran a police recruitment scam using the name of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, following the arrest of a suspected accomplice.

Police here arrested on Wednesday Samin Lucas, alias Sam, following complaints he had taken money from members of the Teduray indigenous tribe in Upi, Maguindanao, in exchange for jobs in the police force, which turned out to be non-existent. Lucas reportedly named spouses Norodin and Marilyn Tilendo as the masterminds of the job recruitment scam.

The three suspects, now accused in two criminal cases, had allegedly taken large sums of money from people in exchange for promises of easy entry into the Philippine National Police. The pitch was that there were special limited police training slots available sponsored by Roxas.

The victims were convinced after they were furnished invitation cards for their supposed “oath taking” in Davao City, which indicated that Roxas would be the guest of honor. The invitation was signed by “Commissioner Constancia de Guzman” of the National Police Commission.

However, in a letter to the victims, the real Commissioner Constancia P. de Guzman denied knowing the couple, saying the signature and invitation were obviously a forgery.

The victims said they had given Marilyn, also known as Wewang, between P 50,000 and P70,000 to include them in the “oath-taking.”

City Administrator Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi said Lucas was detained at the city police detention cell but the victims complained they were still receiving threatening text messages to withdraw the case. Nash B. Maulana, Inquirer Mindanao