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Saturday, May 28, 2005
Man who conned mayors arrested
By Joey P. Nacalaban
AUTHORITIES arrested a Cebu City resident who was long wanted for large-scale estafa.
Danilo Tiogangco, one of three suspects charged with large-scale estafa, was brought here to face another case at one of the courts in the city for the same offense.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 10 Special Investigator Froilan Grageda said at least three municipal mayors of Bukidnon went to their office to file the charges against the suspect.
It was learned that the first suspect who was arrested was Raul de la Peña.
He was nabbed during an entrapment operation conducted by NBI agents last May 3. He was withdrawing money from Union Money Transfer in Manila.
Tiogangco and a certain Recencio Benes were also arrested at the same day. The two were also withdrawing cash at N.S. Ocana Money Transfer located at Mandaue City, Cebu.
Grageda told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro the suspect's modus operandi was to introduce themselves to the chief executives as personnel from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Fake approval
The suspects then would demand money from their victims supposedly for the payments of car registration, shipping, tax, or repainting of the requested vehicle.
According to Grageda the suspects would order their victims to deposit their payment with a money transfer establishment so the suspects could withdraw it.
One of the victims was Rogelio "Boy" Lago of Baungon, Bukidnon.
Lago told NBI the suspects went to his office and told him his ambulance was already approved by their office.
Lago then, through the instruction of the suspects, sent money amounting to P30,000 more or less.
Two other municipal mayors, Mayor Ayuban of Dangcagan and Fortunato Gudito of Damolog both of Bukidnon, also filed their complaints before the NBI against the suspects.
Small amount
They said the suspects victimized the two.
Tiogangco was brought back here to face a estafa charge at the Regional Trial Court (RTC), branch 41. Grageda said Tiogangco's case was filed on 1992.
In an interview Tiogangco admitted to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro his involvement in the crime but said he only received a small amount of money.
He, however, pointed to De la Peña as the mastermind of the group. He said his role was only a driver and that de la Peña and Benes would only gave him money for gasoline.
Grageda said after their arrest, the three were brought to Manila and presented to the media by NBI Director Reynaldo Waycoco.
Waycoco, Grageda said just wanted those individuals also once victimized by the suspects to come forward and file their own suit against them.
As of press time, Tiogangco was temporarily detained inside NBI mini-cell.
(May 28, 2005 issue)
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