National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin A. Matibag on Friday, May 29, warned scammers against falsely claiming to know the whereabouts of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who has reportedly gone into hiding following the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Matibag issued the warning during a press conference after presenting to the media a man arrested by operatives of the NBI’s Organized and Transnational Crimes Division (NBI-OTCD) at a condominium unit in Quezon City on May 19 for allegedly posing as a government official to scam people.

“Baka mauna pa kayo mahuli kay Sen. Bato ‘pag ganyan ‘yung ginawa ninyo (You might get arrested first even before Sen. Bato if you continue doing that),” Matibag warned.

“Huhulihin din po namin kayo (We will also arrest you),” he added.

“Maraming nabiktima ‘to (This man has many victims),” Matibag said of the suspect.

According to the NBI chief, the suspect’s usual scheme involved pretending to be a government official to solicit money from victims.

“‘Yung modus n’ya palagi na magpakilala na he is a government official (His usual modus is introducing himself as a government official),” he said.

Matibag said operatives also seized the suspect’s mobile devices.

“What is alarming is his access to the data, especially the contact numbers of high-ranking officials,” he noted.

Prior to the suspect’s arrest, Matibag said Executive Secretary Ralph Recto had informed him about a person claiming to have information on Dela Rosa’s whereabouts.

Dela Rosa is facing crimes against humanity charges before the ICC in connection with the drug war under former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Matibag said he personally contacted the suspect, who claimed to have worked for former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson and asked for financial assistance, citing a sick child.

Suspecting that the man was a scammer, Matibag said he sent a small amount as part of an attempt to verify the claim.

“‘Nung pinadalhan ko na s’ya humihingi ulit ng amount (When I sent him money, he again asked for another amount),” he recalled.

Matibag said he had already started arranging an entrapment operation when the suspect suddenly stopped communicating with him.

The suspect was eventually arrested by NBI-OTCD operatives following a complaint from a private individual who alleged that the man had posed as an NBI official capable of expediting or dismissing a case in exchange for money.

Investigators later discovered that the mobile number used by the suspect to contact the complainant was the same number used to contact Matibag.

Following his arrest, the suspect was presented for inquest proceedings for alleged violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 after operatives reportedly found Methamphetamine Hydrochloride and Tetrahydrocannabinol in his possession.

Authorities also discovered that the suspect was the subject of an arrest warrant for estafa and was out on bail in multiple robbery and extortion cases.