First Gentleman warns would-be name-droppers

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo warned unscrupulous individuals using his name in their illegal activities to desist or face arrest and prosecution.

Arroyo issued the warning as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Reynaldo Wycoco presented to him a man who "dropped" his name in closing a $3-million government land deal in Japan.

"I will spare no one," the First Gentleman said. "So let this arrest be a warning to those who intend to drop my name in their shenanigans that I will personally go after them until they are captured and jailed."

Wycoco identified the suspect as Anthony Winston Deslate V, who also claimed to be a presidential consultant on Asian affairs. Deslate was charged with usurpation of authority and falsifying official documents.

The NBI chief said Arroyo sent a letter of request to the NBI to investigate a man who had claimed to be close to him. The name dropper claimed he had been appointed officer-in-charge for the sale or lease of a government property in Japan.

Arroyo also gave to the NBI a memorandum with a Malacañang letterhead signed by Deslate.

Investigation showed Deslate tried to sell a piece of government property at 18-1 Fujimi Chrome, Chioda-Kudan to Nozaki Tadashi, a Tokyo-based businessman.

Deslate contacted a certain Al-Ali Rahim last Aug. 1 to join him in his return trip to Japan. Deslate met Rahim in Makati City and bragged about his close ties with Arroyo.

Suspicious, Rahim went to the office of Arroyo and told him about Deslate. The case was referred to the NBI, which identified Deslate’s address. The suspect was not around when the NBI visited him.

Upon learning that agents was looking for him, Deslate went to the NBI to clear his name, during which he was positively identified by Rahim. Deslate denied he used the name of Mr. Arroyo.