NBI nabs two women claiming to be Sara Duterte’s representatives at NLRC

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday said it had arrested two women who allegedly claimed falsely to be representatives of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to influence a case before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).

Agents arrested Josephine Villahermosa and Deltha Bernardo last Thursday. The two women face a complaint for usurpation of authority or official function before the Quezon City prosecutor's office.

The NBI said the arrest stemmed from a June 11 request from Duterte-Carpio's office for an investigation of individuals allegedly making appearances before the NLRC using her name or that of the Office of the City Mayor.

The president's daughter told the NBI she has not instructed anyone to represent her or her office to government agencies, including the NLRC.

The bureau said it found that a person claiming to be Duterte-Carpio called the office of NLRC Commissioner Alex Lopez on June 3 and told his secretary, who answered the call, that Malacañang has ordered the investigation of an NLRC case involving Philtranco and Victory Liner.

The caller allegedly threatened Jocelyn Javier, the secretary, saying: "Mahirap 'pag si Daddy ang nagpa-imbestiga, retirable pa naman siya," referring to Lopez, the bureau said.

The same person called again on June 10 and 11 to ask why Lopez had not called her, the NBI said. Mentioning another supposed anomaly, the caller allegedly said: "Alam mo naman 'pag si Daddy ang nagpaimbestiga, 'pag sinabi niyang sibak, sibak agad."

Villahermosa and Bernardo appeared before Lopez's office on June 13, where the secretary introduced them to the commissioner's chief of staff as representatives of Duterte-Carpio.

They were arrested by agents in the vicinity of the office after Villahermosa admitted she was the person whose name was in the building's security logbook, the NBI said.

The bureau said the two women have pending cases for estafa, illegal recruitment, and violation of the bouncing checks law. —NB, GMA News