‘Money for PNP job’ modus in Cagayan Valley

QUEZON, Isabela – Local police here on Saturday, April 19, warned the public of a modus operandi offering job applicants with “fake” documents and positions in exchange for money.

The issue came after Dominic Lachica, 27, a resident of Quezon town in Isabela, lost nearly P400,000 after dealing with a group who promised to help him become a policeman. 

Lachica dealt with a certain Arlene Evangelista and 4 others, who said they were employees of the administrative section of the PNP’s regional office in Tuguegarao.

Lachica was promised to join the December oathtaking for new members of PNP, but later found out he was not among those qualified, PSI Alex de los Santos, information officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Cagayan Valley Region, told Rappler in a phone interview.

Inside job?

“Lachica is just among the 6 cases of the same incident being dealt with by the PNP,” De los Santos said.

He said these cases appear mostly in months of April, May, and June, as fresh graduates start looking for jobs. 

The police is also looking into possible inside job. “Isa rin sa tinitingnan na anggulo ay inside job, kasi paano ba nalaman ng [mga] taong [ito] na ang taong iyon ay applicant ng PNP?” De los Santos said. 

(We are looking into possible inside job on this incident. How could these people know the name of the applicants of PNP?) 

The public should avoid dealing with persons outside the agency they are applying to, De los Santos said. 

He added that applicants should deal directly with the office they intend to apply to. 

Estafa cases have been filed against the suspects, with two of them already caught and detained.

PNP-Cagayan Valley is pursuing the other suspects while the investigation is ongoing. – Rappler.com