Man arrested for posing as Protestant reverend

The Manila Police District-Special Operations Group (MPD-SOG) has apprehended a man claiming to be a Protestant reverend preying on couples by performing civil weddings at exorbitant rates at Manila City Hall.

MPD-SOG case officer Police Inspector Renato Solis said 52-year-old Alex Sison, of Tondo, Manila was reportedly charged with estafa through swindling before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office. He claimed to be a Protestant reverend connected with the Jesus Christ Gospel Aid Inc., based in Payatas, Quezon City.

Solis said it would be up to the inquest prosecutor whether or not to uphold the charges.

According to Senior Police Officer 4 Victorino Batara, deputy chief MPD-SOG, 20-year-old Angela Ocot, of Tagum, Davao and her Filipino-American fiancée, Clemente Fernandez, 62, went to the Manila City Hall to inquire about the requirements for their marriage on Dec. 28 last year.

A security guard, Jane Ver, directed them to room 552 where they met Sison and a secretary. Sison offered a "package deal" for civil marriages, wherein the P12,000 rate would cover the cost of the marriage license, the ceremony and the wedding rings. He never gave the rings.

The police said a civil wedding usually only cost around P3,000.

Ocot told him they only brought P4,000 with them and the pastor immediately brought out a suit and performed the ceremony while his secretary took pictures. They were charged separately for the pictures and the suit.

Sison said the marriage contract would be available after a week. But it would only be released once they paid the remaining balance of P8,000.

Ocot returned a few days later and bumped into a female friend who informed her that Sison performed an illegal marriage.

She was told that the procedure required going to the Civil Registrar’s Office to submit requirements, undergo a family planning seminar, issue an affidavit of singleness, and have the wedding announced in a newspaper.

Ocot complained to the police and Sison was arrested last Tuesday after a payoff was made. — With Adolph Manimtim