Man posing as PNP chief’s kin nabbed

MANILA, Philippines — A man accused of soliciting money using the Facebook account of a relative of Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. was arrested in Quezon City on Friday.

Renz Denver Sario, 23, was arrested by operatives of the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) in an entrapment operation at a money remittance outlet along Kadalahagan street in Barangay Gulod at around 10:30 p.m.

Sario’s alleged accomplice, whom he named as Tony Rose Obispo, remains at large.

The ACG conducted the operation based on a complaint of Azurin’s relative who claimed her Facebook account, which was hacked, is being used to solicit money from her friends and family.

A cell phone and P300 in cash, which the victim sent through the remittance outlet, were confiscated from Sario.

Police are investigating how Sario and his accomplice hacked into the victim’s Facebook account.

Sario is being held on charges of illegal access and cyber-related identity theft based on Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.