CALAMBA, Laguna – Authorities arrested Monday, August 2, one of the suspects who deceived a victim into transferring P48,000 through an online transaction.
Laguna Police Provincial Office (PPO) identified the suspect as Edmon G. Catubigan, 43.
Calamba City Police Station (CPS) said Catubigan approached the 23-year-old female victim and asked for assistance in transferring money through GCash.
Catubigan reportedly asked the victim to talk to his accomplice, only known as Virgie, on the phone.
Virgie asked about transaction fees at first, but through the course of their conversation, the suspect tricked the victim into providing her personal information, account number, and one-time password.
After the phone conversation, Catubigan immediately fled as the victim received a notification that she had transferred P48,000 to another GCash account.
The victim's father ran after the suspect and, with the help of barangay public safety officers, took him to Calamba CPS.
Catubigan is currently under police custody and is facing charges for estafa in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The police are now investigating the identity of Catubigan's accomplice.
Laguna PPO Director Col. Cecilio R. Ison Jr reminded the public to be alert and not give any personal information to strangers. He also asked the public to report any fraudulent incidents to the police immediately.