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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Fake' Malacanang assistant secretary, 6 others arrested for 'selling gov't appointments, promotions'

'Fake' Malacanang assistant secretary, 6 others arrested for 'selling gov't appointments, promotions'

Published Jul 1, 2024 08:45 am

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested an alleged assistant secretary of the Presidential Management Staff and his six suspected cohorts for reportedly peddling appointments and promotions in government. 

NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago identified the alleged assistant secretary as John Marquina Cruz, who also posed as a certain "Atty. JV Cruz."

The other six arrested suspects were identified as Paulo D. Cruz, Kim Joseph A.Hernand, Jayson D. Marquina, Dante L. Rabano Jr., Darwin Dave S. Caigan, and Noriel M. Reynoso.

They were all presented to journalists in a press conference presided by Director Santiago.

“So if you are interested for a position ayun nga inoffer nila P500,000 to P1 million (they are asking P500,000 to P1 million for the position you want in government),” Santiago said.

He said that based on the modus operandi of the group, JV Cruz would tell his victims that “may specific instruction daw s’ya kay Unang Ginang Marcos na linisin ang bureaucracy (he has specific instructions from the wife of President Marcos to clean the bureaucracy).”

“Ang pakilala n’ya s’ya ang ‘janitor’ ng bureaucracy. Aalisin ‘yung mga remnants ng previous administration at papalitan (He introduced himself as the ‘janitor’ of the bureaucracy. The remnants of the previous administration will be removed and replaced),” said Santiago.

The seven suspects were arrested last Thursday, June 27, at a hotel in Pasig City during an entrapment operation conducted by operatives of the NBI Ilocos Regional Office (NBI-IRO) led by Regional Director Ferdinand Lavin.

“We have a certification from the Office of the President na hindi s’ya in any way connected (that he is not connected with the Office of the President),” said Lavin.

Also, Lavin said the Office of the President also gave the NBI a complete list of undersecretaries and assistant secretaries.

After the arrest of the suspects, they were presented for inquest before the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office on charges of estafa, illegal use of alias, and illegal use of insignia.

At the same time, Lavin said that during the operation last Thursday, the agents seized a laptop and the mobile gadget. "We are submitting the same for forensic to determine and establish the extent and scope of his operations,” he said. 

Lavin urged those victimized by the group "to come forward and file complaints against these people” as the NBI continues to reach out to those the suspects contacted.

“This is not the first time that JV Cruz ay nahuli (he got arrested),” said Lavin.

“JV Cruz was already arrested by the NBI before” and has been engaged in criminal activities for around 20 years,  

Lavin said that JV Cruz has “more than 20 criminal records and derogatory records on file with the NBI ranging from estafa to illegal recruitment to usurpation of authority to use of alias, concealing true identity.” He also said that JV Cruz has criminal cases in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Bulacan and Laguna.

He said that some of JV Cruz's cases are either already dismissed or pending in various courts which already issued arrest warrants.

“Hinihikayat namin na ang mga biktima na ipagpatuloy ‘yung reklamo. Hindi porke nahuli na ito na kagaya ngayon ay hindi na kayo magrereklamo kung kayo ay nabiktima nito (We urge victims to see through their complaints. Just because he got arrested like today, you will no longer file cases if you have been victimized),” he said.

Related Tags

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
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