NBI probes Duterte donation scam suspects’ wealth

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is looking into the assets of the suspects in a donation scam, who reportedly amassed millions of pesos by posing as high-ranking government officials. 

A source told The STAR that they are checking where alleged mastermind Vimbi Flores Avilla got the funds used to build a resort in Tagaytay City, which is still under construction.

The source said NBI agents are checking the bank accounts of Avilla, who has posted bail on extortion charges.

Avilla – arrested by agents from the NBI’s anti-graft unit by virtue of a search warrant for attempted murder in early March – allegedly posed as Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and got around P2 million from a contractor and a businessman.

A check of Avilla’s mobile phones revealed that he was asking for donations for the victims of the earthquake that struck Surigao City in February.

No personal interaction happened during the extortion, which was done through phone calls and bank transactions, the NBI said. 

Initial investigation also disclosed that Avilla was the “Jayvee” referred to as one of the “point persons” by four suspects who allegedly extorted P700,000 from a commercial bank by posing as President Duterte’s campaign spokesman Peter Laviña, supposedly for Davao City’s Senior Citizens’ Day and Duterte’s victory party.

In June last year, NBI agents arrested Jerico Jay Sauco, his girlfriend Aubrey Pineda and his companions Paulo Golinao and Reinyl Funa while withdrawing cash from an automated teller machine in San Pedro City, Laguna.

Sauco could be used as a witness to strengthen the charges against Avilla, officials previously said.