3 ‘scammers’ posing as PNP OIC Danao nabbed

 By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan 

 

PNP OIC Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. (File photo)

MANILA – Three persons are now facing cybercrime charges for posing as Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge (OIC) Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., on social media in an attempt to defraud individuals.

In a statement Monday night, Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, PNP-Anti Cybercrime Group OIC, said the suspects whose identities were withheld were arrested in Binangonan, Rizal last July 3 during the implementation of a warrant to search, seize and examine computer data (WSSECD).

Seized from the suspects were two laptop computers, 10 mobile phones, three passbooks, debit cards, and a 500-gigabyte (GB) hard disk drive.

Masauding said the suspects created a Facebook account and used Danao's profile to defraud the complainant and offered to send 1,000 sacks of rice to the latter to support the Police Community Relations activity of Danao.

Based on their conversation online, the suspects convinced the complainant to send PHP50,000 as shipment fee for the delivery of the sacks of rice.

This aroused the complainant's suspicion and immediately reported the matter to the Anti Cybercrime Group, which immediately secured a WSSECD before the court to track the suspects.

The suspects were brought to the Anti Cybercrime Group headquarters in Camp Crame for booking procedures prior to the conduct of inquest proceedings.

They will be facing criminal charges for violation of Republic Act 8484 (Access Devices Regulation Act) as amended by RA 11449 in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).

Masauding added the arrest of the suspects was a result of a comprehensive “social media cyber patrolling, and series of surveillance operations” conducted by the ACG. (PNA)

 

New DILG chief welcome to join drug raids: PNP

 By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan 

 

(File photo)

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed the gesture of support of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. to its anti-drug campaign following his pronouncement to join anti-narcotics operations.

"Actions like these are certainly morale boosters for frontline law enforcers coming from the highest official of the DILG himself. It augurs well with national policy to sustain the momentum of the national campaign against illegal drugs," PNP Public Information Office (PIO) chief Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba said in a statement on Monday night.

He added this will definitely uplift the PNP's resolve to fulfill its mandate of fighting crime and ensuring peace and order.

"For sure, it will boost the morale of our personnel and improve our legal offensive against illegal drugs and criminality," Alba said.

In a press conference on Monday, Abalos vowed to sustain the gains in the anti-illegal drugs campaign as he officially took over the DILG's helm.

Abalos, a long-time Mandaluyong City mayor and former chairperson of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said the campaign would be continued but the Marcos administration would put greater focus on building up strong cases against illegal drug suspects.

“The drug war will be pursued relentlessly in accordance with the oath I will be taking and the basis of the Constitution. That’s it. I would like to mention to everyone in some of the drug raids sasama ako, sasama talaga ako rito (I will go with them) to show people and to give motivation to our police and to show them ang gagawing mga (all the) raids are in accordance with the law,” Abalos said. (PNA)