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Man claims 'connections with Sen. Bong Go's office' extorts money from victims, arrested by NBI in Pangasinan

Philippines | National

Man claims 'connections with Sen. Bong Go's office' extorts money from victims, arrested by NBI in Pangasinan

By Jeffrey Damicog

A man claiming to have connections with the office of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for allegedly extorting money from his victims.

NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand M. Lavin on Thursday, March 11, presented the suspect who was identified as John Carlos Pedragosa Garcia.

Agents of the NBI’s Special Operations Group (NBI-SOG) was able to locate Garcia last Monday, March 10, in a resort in Bolinao, Pangasinan and arrested him based on a warrant issued by the Mandaluyong City regional trial court (RTC) where he is facing charges of two counts of estafa.

Lavin said that the NBI has found at least three victims of the suspect.

The NBI report showed that a female victim told investigators she was offered a project for the construction of a facility to be used for the operation of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Corporation.

The report stated that the victim recounted that Garcia, who claimed being a friend of Go’s secretary Geraldyne Riano, demanded from her P1 million as advance payment for the project in Albay and Quezon.

It said the victim narrated that Garcia also did not keep his promise to arrange a meeting with the victim and Senator Go.

“The victim went to the office of Senator Go and was surprised to learn that Riano and Garcia are not employees of the senator,” the NBI said.

The other two victims said they were also duped by Garcia into giving to him P50,000 and P250,000, respectively, the report added.

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