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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Fake DBM workers nabbed by NBI in failed P1.3-billion scam

Fake DBM workers nabbed by NBI in failed P1.3-billion scam

Published Apr 1, 2024 05:19 am

Law enforcers arrested eight individuals who allegedly tried to swindle some P1 billion from a contractor of an infrastructure project, claiming themselves to be employees of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

During an entrapment operation in Mandaluyong City on March 26, agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) apprehended the suspects, who claimed to be working for DBM. One of the suspects even introduced herself as a DBM undersecretary to the complainant, and said that her group could assist in releasing funds from government projects.

The NBI reported that the suspects promised the complainant, who is a project contractor, access to P1.3 billion worth of government projects if they agreed to a deal.

The project was reportedly related to the construction of a dam, which the DBM was supposedly funding, based on the details of the complaint.

The suspects assured the complainant that the project would be awarded to her, but required the complainant to provide “grease money” for the project’s “Blue Print” to initiate the processing of documents for the project award.

However, the contractor conducted an initial verification with the DBM, and discovered that there was no such an official in the agency and that the mentioned project did not exist in the agency’s records.

The DBM immediately collaborated with the NBI to conduct an entrapment operation where the suspects were swiftly apprehended at a restaurant in Mandaluyong City after accepting marked money amounting to P500,000 from the NBI.

According to the latest NBI report, two of the suspects expressed their desire to be witnesses against the other suspects.

"Mariin po nating kinokondena ang ganitong klaseng gawain. May proseso po tayong sinusunod na naaayon sa mga umiiral na batas (We strongly condemn this kind of work. We follow a process that is consistent with existing laws)," DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said.

"We hope that with this successful entrapment, we are able to send a strong statement to the public that the DBM will never tolerate fraudulent activities like this," Pangandaman added.

"Seryoso po ang DBM sa paglaban sa katiwalian gaya po ng ganitong mga gawain. Kaya naman po hinihikayat ko po ang taumbayan na agad magsumbong at i-report kung may mga mae-encounter sila na ganitong mga indibidwal (DBM is serious about fighting corruption like these activities. That's why I encourage the people to immediately report and report if they encounter such individuals)," she further said.

Related Tags

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
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