Warning out on con man using Ochoa’s name

MANILA, Philippines—Some local government officials have been duped by a man who called them up asking for money supposedly at the behest of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Saturday.

PNP Director General Raul M. Bacalzo said the “enterprising con artist” introduced himself as a senior official from Ochoa’s office.

Bacalzo did not name the government officials who were duped or say how much was taken from them.

The con man, Bacalzo said in a statement, would call up local officials and ask for money and other perks purportedly at the request of Ochoa.

Ochoa himself had called up Bacalzo to report the scam.

The PNP has fielded teams from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Intelligence Group to track down the con man.

A similar scam was uncovered earlier involving a man who claimed to be a lawyer in the office of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.

The con man, who has not been caught, reportedly victimized some town mayors and chiefs of police in Bicol and Central Luzon.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Agrimero A. Cruz Jr. advised the public to report anyone asking for money for a government official to the nearest police station or to the PNP voice and text hotline 0917-8475757, or the PNP Public Information Office at 7255115 and 7253179. DJ Yap