NBI arrests scammer posing as Salvador Panelo

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a man who admits he demanded money from unsuspecting victims while posing as presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Facebook.

Jose Villafuerte, 31, fell to NBI operatives in an entrapment operation in Cebu City on Feb. 21, the bureau said on Tuesday.

Villafuerte admitted to reporters that he created a Facebook account bearing Panelo's name after seeing a similar modus operandi on TV. He said he intended to use the defrauded money for daily expenses. He claimed to have acted alone.

NBI says it has arrested a man who allegedly demanded money from victims while pretending to be presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Facebook @gmanews pic.twitter.com/bgyMvXfhgU

— Nicole-Anne Lagrimas (@nclagrimas) February 26, 2019

"Humihingi ako ng tawad kay Secretary Salvador Panelo sa nangyari," he said.

"Kung saan man po ako makapunta nito, kung madala ako sa Muntinlupa eh maluwag sa loob ko pong tatanggapin yung parusa sakin... kasi ako po'y nagkasala," he added.

Most of Villafuerte's victims, some of whom refused to cooperate with authorities, interacted with the fake account to ask favors or questions, the NBI said.

The account holder would then demand money from them to be allegedly used as donations to what turned out to be non-existent causes, the bureau said.

Villafuerte was arrested in an operation that stemmed from a letter from Panelo's office, the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, that sought an investigation of the Facebook account bearing his name, photos, and even updates from the office's real account. 

The entrapment operation was hatched after an undercover NBI operative who interacted with the fake account was asked for money allegedly to be used for a rehabilitation project for typhoon victims in Naga City, the NBI said.

The agent was allegedly promised "lucrative contracts" from the Department of Health if he paid. Villafuerte allegedly agreed to meet the poseur agent in Cebu to receive P500,000.

The NBI filed complaints against Villafuerte for computer-related identity theft, obstruction of justice, unlawful use of alias, use of falsified documents, falsification of public documents, usurpation of authority or official functions, and use of fictitious name and concealing true name.

Villafuerte already faces cases for qualified theft and estafa before various regional trial courts, the bureau found.  —KBK, GMA News