MANILA, Philippines — Police arrested on Monday the alleged mastermind in a scam offering government posts and projects in exchange for huge sums of money, a scheme that allegedly made the suspect P1 billion richer.
Among the victims of Eduardo Diokno Eje, who posed as undersecretary at the Office of the President, were artists and television models, including actresses Rosanna Roces and Gwen Garci.
Brig Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., director of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said Eje allegedly pocketed nearly P1 billion from about a dozen victims.
“Minimum of P1 million ang hinihingi niya. May isang biktima, nasa P300 million ang nahingi niya doon,” Caramat said at a press briefing.
Col. Hansel Marantan, who heads the CIDG’s National Capital Region field office, said they responded to a report that a government official armed with a gun was involved in a traffic altercation with a motorcycle rider along 31st street in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
“Police went there right away, confiscated from his possession an unlicensed firearm and other contraband,” Marantan told reporters.
A handgun and a grenade were seized from Eje.
Police said they have been tracking down the suspect after he was tagged as the man who promised eight persons bogus presidential appointments.
The victims, thinking they were presidential appointees, went to Malacañang for their supposed oath-taking to be administered by no less than President Marcos.
The victims told police that a man, known as Undersecretary Eduardo Diokno, and Assistant Secretary John See, both from the Office of the Executive Secretary, told them to proceed to Malacañang for their swearing-in, only to be informed that no such activity was scheduled at the Palace.
Acting on the information, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission head Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz coordinated with the CIDG in hunting down Eje.
See surrendered to the CIDG yesterday, claiming that he was also Eje’s victim.
Police said Eje, posing as an undersecretary with close ties to Marcos, would offer positions in government in exchange for cash.
The suspect held meetings at five-star hotels, accompanied by men posing as members of the Presidential Security Group, according to the CIDG.
Apart from Marcos, Eje also used the names of Vice President Sara Duterte and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin in his illicit activities.
Roces said she lost P2.1 million to Eje after the suspect duped her into a business endeavor worth P10 million.
She said her business partner, an engineer from Cebu, was also victimized by the suspect.
Garci said Eje swindled her of P1 million for a supposed horse racing business.
She said her two companions recovered their investments, but Eje has yet to pay her.
Police said an investigation is underway to identify Eje’s other cohorts.