The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced Monday the arrest of seven individuals involved in selling government positions and promotions.
“You think of getting appointed, getting promoted, they are offering their services for a fee,” said NBI Ilocos Regional Office Director Ferdinand Lavin in a press conference. The group exploited a directive ordering presidential appointees to submit their credentials.
“They claimed that previous appointees of the past administration would be removed and took advantage of this information by selling positions and promotions,” Lavin added.
The suspects were caught during an operation in Pasig City, with six of them wearing jackets bearing the insignia of Malacañang and the Office of the President. One suspect, previously arrested by the NBI, had over 20 criminal records, including estafa, illegal recruitment, usurpation of authority, use of an alias, and concealing true identity. He has been conducting these activities for more than 20 years across various regions, including Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Bulacan, Calamba, and Laguna.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago revealed that this individual posed as an assistant secretary of the Presidential Management Staff, claiming he was tasked with cleaning up the bureaucracy.
Authorities retrieved a laptop and mobile gadgets from the suspects, which are now undergoing forensic examination.
“We are calling on the public to come forward and file complaints against these people,” Lavin urged.
Santiago emphasized the importance of victims cooperating with the NBI to prevent the suspects from continuing their activities, especially since their cases are bailable. “If victims don’t approach us to cooperate, this will continue. We won’t be able to do anything if they post bail. So this is our appeal,” he said.