2 held for posing as NCRPO personnel

MANILA, Philippines — Two people allegedly posing as civilian employees assigned to the office of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo were arrested in Quezon City on Monday for soliciting money.

Editha Candelaria, 48, and Allan Castillano Jr., 47, were apprehended by operatives of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and the Anti-Cybercrime Group in Barangay Unang Sigaw at around 7 p.m.

The suspects, according to investigators, were soliciting money from police officers while pretending to be non-uniformed personnel assigned to Okubo’s office.

Among their would-be victims was QCPD Novaliches station commander Lt. Col. Jerry Castillo, who received a text message from a cell phone number seeking financial assistance for an NCRPO team building activity.

Castillo said he then saw an advisory from the NCRPO on their Viber group that someone was pretending to be an employee from Okubo’s office.

Acting on the information, police conducted surveillance and tracked down the suspects to a residential compound. They were arrested following an entrapment operation.

The suspects underwent inquest proceedings before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office, where they were charged with usurpation of authority, swindling and violation of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Fake Manila employee nabbed

Meanwhile, a man was arrested for allegedly introducing himself as an employee of the city government of Manila to defraud people of money.

Personnel of the Manila Police District (MPD)’s Barbosa station arrested Joel Joseph Boongaling.

The suspect, claiming to be a city government employee, allegedly told barangay officials that for P2,000, he could arrange for the barangay to receive 10 slots from the city government’s emergency employment program and food for 200 people, police said.

The MPD presented Boongaling to Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan at her office on Monday. — Ghio Ong