Extortionists using name of Duterte transition team spox nabbed

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte (second from right) with his spokesperson Peter Laviña (INQUIRER PHOTO)

DAVAO CITY—The spokesperson of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said law enforcers had nabbed a criminal group that had been using his name for extortion.

“Thank God the long arms of the law have finally caught up with sinister groups and individuals duping the public by using my name to solicit donations from hapless victims,” Peter Laviña said in text message to media.

“These people are not only after easy money, they are trying to besmirch my name and that of the incoming President,” Laviña said.

The former campaign spokesperson of Duterte congratulated the police and said he hoped it would also “be a lesson to their kind that change has come.”

“People and law enforcers are now vigilant,” he said.

Earlier reports said people pretending to be Laviña had been texting high-ranking people to extort money from them.

Bong Go, Duterte’s executive assistant, told media that someone using his name also texted President Benigno Aquino III to ask for help. But Aquino’s aide contacted Go to check if the number was his.