By Erma Edera
Five men posing as Customs officials online were arrested by police during an entrapment operation in Intramuros, Manila on Wednesday afternoon.
Bureau of Customs
(Manila Bulletin File Photo)
Police identified the suspects as Rombert De Guzman, 35, single, jobless, of Pulilan, Bulacan; Anton de la Cruz, 30, single, jobless, of Tondo, Manila; Ignacio Luna, 28,single, jobless, of Caloocan City; Gilbert Victoria, 47, married, jobless, of Tondo, Manila; Ronald Maglente, 42, single, jobless of Tondo, Manila.
Initial investigation showed that operatives of Ermita Police Station (PS-5) conducted an entrapment operation against the suspects based on the complaints filed by Richard Sanchez, 34, married, police officer and resident of Tondo, Manila and Jerome Cabural, 34, single, businessman, of Malate Manila on August 14.
Seized from the suspects were boodle money amounting to P850,000 and fake Customs identification cards.
Chief Supt. Igmedio Bernaldez of Ermita Police Station (PS-5) said Sanchez personally reported in their station after learning that he transacted with the online swindlers.
According to the victims, they were lured after seeing the suspects' e-commerce website that sell cheap cars, motorcycles and gadgets.
Sanchez told Bernaldez that he sends P50,000 to the suspects for reservation of one unit of Toyota Rush. The suspects guaranteed him to turn over the said vehicle after the completion of payment amounting to P900,000.