By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD
The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced yesterday the arrest of a con artist who impersonated top government officials to extort money.
PNP chief Director General Oscar D. Albayalde identified the arrested suspect as Vimbi Avilla who was previously arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for impersonating former Vice President Jejomar Binay, former National Irrigation Authority (NIA) Secretary Peter Lavina, Department of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla.
Albayalde said that recently, the suspect impersonated Department of the Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge (DILG-OIC) Secretary Eduardo Año to extort money from unsuspecting individuals, including public officials.
Flores was arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the Regional Public Safety Battalion SWAT, San Pablo City Police Station, and Military Intelligence Unit on May 15, 2018 in Baragay San Vicente, San Pedro, Laguna, during the service of a search warrant issued by Judge Agripino Morga of Regional Trial Court Branches 29-32 of San Pablo City, Laguna.
Recovered from the suspect were a .38-caliber revolver, a hand grenade, four cellphones he used to call or text his victims, sim cards, pawnshops and money remittance receipts on May 15, 2018, in Brgy. San Vicente, San Pedro, Laguna, during the service of a Search Warrant issued by Judge Agripino Morga of Regional Trial Court Branches 29-32 of San Pablo City, Laguna.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City, yesterday, Albayalde said the suspect would call his potential victims over the phone and impersonate the voice of the government officials.
He said the suspect could be likened to entertainer/impersonator Willie Nepumuceno.
“He could be likened to Willie Nepumuceno, that’s he’s style. He can impersonate the voices of the said government officials. If you are familiar with them, seeing them on TV and hearing their voices you will think that the suspect is them. That’s how good he is,” Albayalde said in Filipino.
Albayalde said the suspect has already victimized a number of people even elected officials.
“We just don’t want to give the names but there are elected officials whom he was able to dupe because these elected officials are always in touch with officials in government who holds key positions so they know their voices,” he said.
Albayalde said DILG OIC Año directed the PNP to go after the suspect after finding out that the suspect is also impersonating him.
He added that police is still conducting a probe to determine the total amount of money the suspect had taken from his victims.
Probers learned that Flores was also arrested by the Manila Police District (MPD) for robbery and attempted murder case.
Albayalde said the suspect is under the custody of the CIDG Regional Force Unit 4A for documentation.