POLICE authorities arrested on December 7 in Barangay Baay, Lingayen town a man who posed as Secretary of Interior and Local Government (SILG) Benhur Abalos by extorting money from local executives.

Personnel of Internal Security, Office of the SILG as the lead unit, together with Provincial Intelligence Unit and Pangasinan Provincial Police Office arrested in an entrapment operation the suspect identified as Edison Montealto, 23, college student and a resident of Barangay Baay.

A criminal complaint for violations of syndicated estafa, Section 6 of Republic Act 10175, Identity Theft and Spoofing under the SIM Registration Act, were lodged at the office of the Prosecutor in Lingayen against the arrested suspect under Docket No. I-01-INQ-23L-000282. The police are still investigating further his possible cohorts as they believe he belongs to a syndicate.

Secretary Abalos presented the suspect in a press briefing held at Camp Crame on Tuesday, December 12. The suspect mimicked Abalos’ voice to solicit cash from his victims to prove that he was really the one asking money for a certain project.

He said the entrapment operation was launched after some mayors and governors were reportedly victimized by the suspect.

Secretary Abalos said the suspect had victimized one governor who was asked to send P30,000 via Gcash, followed by two more consecutive requests of P30,000 each.

The suspect also extorted P50,000 from a mayor and others.

The arrested suspect was initially lodged in the custodial facility of the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office awaiting the commitment order from the court for his transfer to the Pangasinan Provincial Jail. (Eva Visperas)

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