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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Scammer' posing as LTO employee arrested in Manila -- NBI

'Scammer' posing as LTO employee arrested in Manila -- NBI

Published Aug 4, 2025 02:27 pm
A suspected scammer who has been posing as an employee of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has been arrested during an entrapment operation in Manila, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Monday, August 4.
The NBI identified the suspect as Erick Pascual Balsomo who was arrested last July 28 by operatives of the NBI Criminal Intelligence Division (NBI-CRID) during an entrapment operation conducted at a mall in Malate, Manila.
It said the bureau received a complaint against Balsomo who introduced himself as an LTO employee and offered facilitations of driver’s license and registration of motor vehicles for a fee.
After verification from LTO that Balsomo is not an employee and not authorized to perform official transactions on its behalf, the NBI said it conducted an entrapment operation.
It also said that the bureau found that Balsomo is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 26 in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija where he is facing a non-bailable statutory rape case.
After his arrest, Balsomo was presented before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office on charges of usurpation of authority and official function, and estafa, and illegal use of fictitious name -- all under the Revised Penal Code (RPC), in relation to Republic Act (RA) 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Also, the NBI recommended that Balsomo be charged with illegal possession of a deadly weapon after a knife was seized from him during his arrest.
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