Authorities have arrested four Cameroonians for involvement in alleged swindling and in the faking of U.S. banknotes in an entrapment operation in Quezon City.
Two others were also arrested for trying to bribe police investigators in exchange of the foreigners’ release.
Members of the Quezon City Police District-District Special Operations Unit (QCPD-DSOU) nabbed the four Cameroonians in an entrapment operation in a mall parking area on Wednesday at around 7:30 p.m.
QCPD Director Chief Supt. Joselito T. Esquivel Jr. identified the suspects as Bame Jacob, 42; Ogie Oscar Mbang, 48; Tangang Yannick Ndare, 27; and Aly Camara, 33.
According to a spot report, the suspects in April enticed the victims—Nancy Payumo, 40; Peter Telan, 58; Leonardo Bernardo, 46; and Evelyn Tuason—to invest in a liquid chemical worth P300,000 that can make fake banknotes appear as genuine.
The victims, who had once bought genuine U.S. dollar bills from the suspects, were promised that their investment would be doubled.
Convinced, the victims paid the suspects on May 16 and met again on May 21 to get their investment.
But instead of getting the chemical, the suspects gave them $100 wrapped in plastic and were told to wait for the product to arrive.
They agreed to meet again on May 23 to get their return of investment. But sensing they were duped, the victims sought the help of the DSOU.
Police seized from the suspects three small vaults containing 5,220 pieces of fake US banknotes, which would be submitted to the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas for authentication and safekeeping.
Police are investigating if they have other victims and will also probe whether they belong to a syndicate.
The suspects will be charged with violation of Article 315 (swindling through estafa ) and Article 168 (illegal possession of false treasury or banknotes and other instruments of credit) of the Revised Penal Code,
Meanwhile, the two other individuals who tried to bribe police investigators were arrested Friday.
Esquivel identified them as 42-year-old Cameroonian man Michael Amungwa, and 55-year-old Filipino woman Ma. Ruby Verzosa.
The QCPD chief said the two offered P200,000 cash to police officers inside the DSOU office, prompting investigators to arrest them.
They will be charged with bribery through corruption of public official under the Revised Penal Code. /muf