Police entrap con man who duped OFW kin

CEBU, Philippines – A man who preyed on families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to gyp of their hard-earned money was arrested in an entrapment operation Monday afternoon.

Policemen of Tibiao town in Antique collared Jerry Talaman, 44, a native of Barangay Cato-ogan in Tobias Fornier town of Antique, after he received the P100,000 cash from a remittance center in Tibiao. He admitted to have embezzled Helen Belicena, 57, of Barangay Rumbang in Pototan, Iloilo.

Several days ago, the suspect, who identified himself as a certain Chief Engineer Ruben Pecache, called Belicena to inform her that her seafarer son, Aldrestan, had been into "trouble" with a co-worker while onboard a ship.

Talaman (or Pecache) said Aldrestan had to pay P250,000 for his co-worker's medication and monetary settlement to avoid litigation, and that the shipping company already paid the amount thus must be reimbursed.

Initially, Belicena sent P50,000 to Talaman via the same remittance center, followed by P20,000 and then P80,000. Talaman later called Belicena and demanded for the "balance" of P100,000 immediately.

Subsequently, Belicena suspected that something was wrong, prompting her to inform the Pototan Police, which in turn coordinated with the Tibiao Police and an entrapment was immediately set. Belicena called Talaman she sent P100,000 to the remittance center, where the police arrested him right after claiming the money.

Talaman admitted he victimized at least three families in Iloilo, adding that he owns a house in Tigbauan town and has a business selling local clothing line. He further said he was working for a certain Gilbert Tuliba.

Upon verification, the police found out that the National Bureau of Investigation had already arrested Tuliba on January 2009. He was 39 years old then and went by the aliases Mark Anthony Siy, Mario Pelare, Edison Dizon, and Nicanor Tuliba.

The NBI said Tuliba was the alleged leader of the notorious Dugo-Dugo Gang, who pretended to be a ship captain, a lawyer, a doctor, an Embassy official and a businessman to gyp over 100 families of seamen and overseas OFWs by concocting stories about their relative-OFWs.

Meanwhile, Senior Inspector Ariel Corcino, Pototan Police chief, said Talaman is now in custody of his station while charges are being readied against the suspect. He urged other "victims" to come out and file charges against Talaman.