Duterte donation scam NBI probes P.5-M deposit in suspect’s bank account

MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is checking other deposits made into the bank account of one the suspects in a scam using the name of Peter Laviña, president-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign spokesman, an official said yesterday.

Agents found that Jericho Jay Sauco received P500,000 in his bank account on May 18, but the account is a payroll account tied to a real estate firm, Nathaniel Ramos, executive officer of the NBI’s Anti-Graft Division, told The STAR over the phone.

“We are also looking into the possibility that the amount was commission from his earnings as a former real estate agent,” he said.

Sauco, currently an online reseller, was arrested by NBI agents at a bank in San Pedro, Laguna on Thursday afternoon along with girlfriend Aubrey Pineda and companions Paulo Golinao and Raniel Funa.

They denied knowing about the scam. Sauco said he was asked by Funa’s uncle, Manuel, to withdraw P300,000 deposited into his account.

Sauco’s bank account was mentioned by a person who posed as Laviña and called officials of the Bank of the Philippine Islands-Family Savings Bank at past 1 p.m. on May 31 to donate P1 million, supposedly for Duterte’s victory party yesterday, according to a complaint filed by BPI before the NBI on Friday.

The donation was for two events – the Senior Citizens’ Day in Davao City and Duterte’s victory party.

The impostor asked that deposits be done in three tranches and that the bank should immediately deposit P300,000 for Senior Citizens’ Day, which would happen the following day, June 1, right after the phone call.

The senior officer approved the release of the funds and P300,000 was deposited at around 3 p.m. on May 31. The second tranche of P400,000 was deposited in the same account at around 9 a.m. on June 1.

The impostor later demanded that the senior officer immediately deposit the remaining P300,000. However, the senior officer received a call from a concerned citizen who informed the bank about the scam using Duterte’s name.

The bank management sought the NBI’s help to arrest the suspects and the Anti-Money Laundering Council to flag Sauco’s account.

Ramos said the number used by the person who posed as Laviña could no longer be reached since the arrest of the suspects.

He added that they would invite the elder Funa tomorrow in the hope of getting more leads on where the money went and who orchestrated the scheme.

The NBI is also looking into the involvement of a certain “JB,” allegedly Funa’s business partner.

The four claimed the money was to be used for a waste disposal management business that Funa and JB were about to put up.

The four underwent inquest proceedings on Friday night and may be charged with estafa. The elder Funa also faces an estafa charge.

Ramos said they hope they could invite Laviña to get his side on the issue.

Meanwhile, Laviña, in his Facebook post on Friday night, thanked the NBI for arresting the suspects.