Millions stolen as scammer pretends to be President Marcos' cousin

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission was investigating a suspect who allegedly scammed millions from victims by pretending to be a  cousin of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

According to a 24 Oras report by Jun Veneracion on Tuesday, two victims of the suspect, who introduced himself as “Mario Marcos,” approached the PAOCC to lodge complaints against the suspect.

“Maria” lost P12 million after one of her staff allegedly confirmed that the suspect was a Marcos family member.

“In-attest siya ng tauhan ko na kamag-anak nga po. Kasi pinag-verify ko sa [Presidential Security Group], but it turned out, when I talked to someone from the PSG, hindi siya kilala. So, ano, kasabwat niya kahit sarili kong tauhan,” Maria said.

(My staff attested that he was indeed a relative [of the President]. I had someone check [with PSG], but it turned out, when I talked to someone from the PSG, he did not know him. So it seems the suspect was in cahoots with my own staff.)

Maria also said that the suspect allegedly brought bodyguards with him at every meeting, and his office was filled with his photos with VIPs.

Meanwhile, retired Army General “Romeo” was scammed out of P800,000 for a “major investment.”

The PAOCC confirmed that Mario Marcos was not a relative of the President, and that he has been scamming people for years.

The suspect is currently out on bail for estafa.

“We just want the public to know na may mga ganitong modus operandi, makapanloko ng tao,” said PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz.

(We just want the public to know that there is a modus operandi like this to deceive people.)

PAOCC had sent a team to investigate and arrest the suspect once a warrant of arrest was issued. — Jiselle Casucian/DVM/KG, GMA Integrated News