Cops nab 'extortionists' using DILG exec Malaya's name in Pangasinan

Two alleged extortionists posing as officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government have been arrested by police operatives in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

According to DILG chief Eduardo Año on Friday, suspects Natilyn Decipulo, 29 and Richard Tacto, 45, allegedly used the name of DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya to extort money from local officials.

“The long arm of the law finally caught up with them at gaya nga ng sinabi natin, we will bring these people to justice lalo pa at pangalan ng mga opisyal ng DILG ang kanilang ginagamit sa kanilang modus. Let this serve as a warning to all would-be criminals, we will find you wherever you maybe,” Año said.

Likewise, he said that a manhunt operation is ongoing to track down the other members of the "Decipulo" group.

According to Año, members of the group introduce themselves as DILG employees working under Malaya. Later on, they will “solicit” money from local chief executives who want their pending administrative cases fixed.

Another modus, Año said, members of the group would inform the targeted mayor or governor that the DILG will donate cavans of rice to be distributed to constituents affected by recent calamities.

They would then ask the local official to send money for the delivery expenses of the supposed DILG donation.

Año said investigations showed the group was behind at least 20 extortion activities victimizing governors or mayors in Luzon, Visayas, Caraga Region, and BARMM.

Decipulo is facing charges for alleged robbery-extortion and estafa as well as alleged violation of the E-Commerce Act.

Meanwhile, PNP-Criminal Investigation Group Pangasinan Provincial Office Chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Corpuz said Tacto has been cooperating with authorities for the possible arrest of the other suspects.

“Nakikipagtulungan si Tacto sa amin para mabisto lahat ng miembro ng kanilang grupo. We are looking for the other suspects as we speak,” Corpuz said.

Malaya, meanwhile, urged all mayors who were victimized by the Decipulo group to contact the DILG or the CIDG and file criminal cases against the suspects.

“I personally appeal to the mayors and governors who were victimized by these extortionists to inform us and file cases against them. Nakakalungkot na sa gitna ng pandemya ay nagagawa ng mga kawatan na ito na manloko. Kailangan pagbayaran nila ang kanilang kasalanan sa bayan," Malaya said. —LBG, GMA News