Ex-senator Aquino behind demolition job vs Go, says suspect nabbed for posing as House lawmaker
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 01 Aug 2019 08:30:53 +0000
THREE individuals who pretended to be lawmakers at the House of Representatives were arrested and were presented to media by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday.
One of the suspects, Dennis Jose Borbon, 24, revealed that he worked for former senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino 4th to attack on social media the senators endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte, including Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.
Collecting P20,000 to P40, 000 per month, Borbon said it was Aquino’s chief of staff who gave instructions and was paid between P20,000 and P40,000.
He said he also collected money from then Magdalo representative Gary Alejano, a senatorial candidate of the Otso Diretso opposition party.
“Pinapatira sa akin lahat ng senatorial candidates ng administrasyon (They asked me to attack all candidates for senator of the administration),” Borbon said.
As a blogger against President Rodrigo Duterte, he claimed to have a Facebook blog with 300,000 engagements per week that helped him to criticize the Chief Executive’s senators.
Borbon also said that he and Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy” knew each other.
Go challenged Aquino to answer the claim of Borbon.
“Ngayon sabi ni Bam Aquino hindi totoo wala siyang kinalaman sa paninira. Ngayon tinatanong ko si Bam Aquino ano ginagawa ng Chief of Staff mo nagdedeposito ng pera sa account niya para siraan kami,” the senator said.
(Now Bam Aquino is saying that it isn’t true. Now I am asking Bam Aquino why his chief of staff is depositing money to his [Bornon’s] account in exchange for his criticisms.)
Aside from Borbon, the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU) 4A identified the other suspects as Edgar Paulo James Bularan, 30, and Menard Gregg Bassa, 20, who were arrested in Camarines Sur on Tuesday. They allegedly posed as Camarines Sur 4th District Rep. Arnie Fuentebella.
The three allegedly asked for money through chat group, Viber, from 1-Pacman Partylist Rep. Miguel “Mikee” Romero, Vice Governor Jolo Revilla and another Senator who was not named.
On Wednesday, the suspects were apprehended in Malabon City by the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) in an entrapment operation after attempting to withdraw P15,000 reportedly extorted from Revilla.
Police Lt. Col. Julius Suriben, officer-in-charge of RACU 4A, said that Revilla and Fuentebella sought help from ACG to arrest the suspects.
One of the suspects, police revealed, called Revilla claiming he was Fuentebella and that he lost his wallet while travelling to Palawan and needed P25,000.
Go was supposedly the next target but the senator asked Fuentebella if he was really asking for money.
The suspects are facing violations of Section 4 (b) (3) of Republic Act 10175 (Identity Theft) and Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code (Estafa) in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175. DARWIN PESCO