Six persons posing as employees of the Office of the President (OP) have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for allegedly selling positions at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament for P8 million per seat.
The NBI identified them as Diahn Sanchez Dagohoy who is also known as "Diane," Blkisah Balt Datadacula, Alejandro Barceno Lorino Jr., Ronald Joseph Catunao, Leomer Abon, and Tita Natividad.
It said they were arrested during an entrapment operation conducted by operatives of the NBI’s Special Task Force (NBI-STF) and Cybercime Dvision (NBI-CCD) in Manila last Jan. 2.
“Subjects were arrested after they received the marked money and misrepresented themselves as employees of the Office of the President,” it also said.
“Certification issued by the Office of the President (OP) confirmed that the above mentioned Subjects are not their employees nor in any way connected with the Palace,” it added.
Following their arrest, the NBI said all six persons were presented for inquest before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office for syndicated estafa and usurpation of authority in violation of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).
The NBI said the operation was conducted based on a complaint it received also on Jan. 2.
It said that last Dec. 29 “a certain Diane contacted the complainant and offered him a seat as a member of the Bangsamoro (BARRM) Parliament.”
“Complainant played along to make it appear that he was interested,” it also said.
After a series of conversation, the NBI said “Complainant and Subject Diane came to an agreement for the appointment of the former’s son and nephew in the BARMM parliament with a corresponding fee of Fifteen Million Pesos (P15,000,000).”
“Subject Diane assured the Complainant of two positions (seats) that will be reserved for and will be arranged by no less than the First Lady,” it also said.
“Subject further claimed that successful appointees will be taking their oath of office by Jan. 3, 2025,” it added.