Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 24) — Authorities have arrested four individuals who claimed to be staff members of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian in order to collect money from unsuspecting victims.
The senator earlier denounced the fraudulent actions of the suspects, clarifying that none of them are affiliated with his office.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) identified the suspects as Ryan Lester Dino Y Placido a.k.a David Luis Tan; Carlo Africa Maderazo a.k.a Engineer Maderazo; Dina Joson Castro a.k.a Dinah Bartolome Lopez a.k.a Diwah Lopez Umali a.k.a Dina Bartolome Joson; and Ma. Luisa Barlan Y Joson.
They were arrested in Pasay City and were charged under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), Usurpation of Authority under Article 177 of the RPC, Concealing True Name under Article 178 of the RPC, and violation of R.A. 6085 (Anti-Alias Law).
According to the complainant, who is a business owner contracting suppliers of aggregates such as armor rock and boulders, suspect Maderazo reached out to him for a \”planned reclamation project in Pasay City.\”
\”Subject Maderazo told Complainant that he needs to pay a lock-in payment of Php100,000.00 and an upfront fee of Php400,000.00 that will be distributed to the employees of Pasay City Hall as grease money,\” the NBI said.
It added that Maderazo claimed to be an authorized representative from Gatchalian’s office.
