John Genesis A. Damgo
NABBED. NBI officials present seven individuals arrested for offering government positions in exchange for money, during a press conference in Quezon City on Monday (July 1, 2024). NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the group, which was apprehended on June 28, charges from P500,000 to P1 million in exchange for government positions.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday presented seven persons arrested in an entrapment operation for allegedly victimizing applicants for government positions in exchange for a hefty amount of money.
In a press briefing, NBI Director Jaime Santiago bared the operation was conducted after the agency's Ilocos Regional Office (IRO) provided them information regarding an individual introducing himself as "Atty. JV Cruz" claiming to be a ranking official in Malacañang, offering government positions to those interested in exchange for a fee ranging from P500,000 to P1 million..
“He introduced himself as Asec of the Presidential Management Staff, saying he had specific instructions from First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to clean up the bureaucracy. He introduced himself as the janitor of the bureaucracy, tasked to remove the remnants of the previous administration,” Santiago said.
Santiago said they immediately coordinated with the PMS, which told them there is no Assistant Secretary named "Atty. JV Cruz" and that he is neither connected with the Office of the President (OP) Proper nor authorized to conduct any activity for the office.
During the entrapment operation at a hotel in Quezon City, NBI-IRO and National Capital Region agents disguised as applicants were approached by suspects Paulo Cruz and Jayson Marquina, who were wearing jackets bearing the logo of the OP.
The poseur applicants were then ushered to a room where another suspect identified as JV Cruz was waiting. The operatives apprehended JV after he received P100,000 in boodle money.
Aside from Marquina, Paulo Cruz, and JV Cruz, whose real name was John Vicente Cruz, NBI agents also apprehended four others identified as Kim Joseph Hernand, Dante Rabano Jr., Darwin Dave Caigan, and Noriel Reynoso.
The arrested suspects were presented for inquest proceedings before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office for violation of Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code, Executive Order 141 series of 1999, Commonwealth Act No.142, and Articles 177,178,179 of the Revised Penal Code.
In the aftermath of the arrest, Santiago called on the other victims of the group to come out and file complaints.
“Those who have been victimized by this group, come to us so we can further strengthen the case against them. Their case is bailable. Once they post bail, they will be at it again,” he said.)
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