NBI nabs alleged scammer who tried to bilk senators out of P300,000

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested an alleged scammer who disguised himself as a representative of a bishop to secure donations from senators.

Authorities identified the suspect as John Curt Resco. 

According to John Consulta’s “24 Oras” report on Saturday, the suspect claimed to be the Daet bishop’s representative to ask for P300,000 for the diocese.

The report said the office of Senate President Vicente Sotto III sought the NBI's help on the matter.

“Vinerify namin yung bishop sa Archdiocese ng Bicol, walang ganoong klaseng bishop. Walang nanghihingi sa kanila ng ayuda or tulong,” said Sixto Espinesin Jr., executive officer of the NBI-Special Task Force.

(We verified the identity of the bishop with the Archdiocese of Bicol, and we found out there was no bishop who asked them for help or assistance.)

Resco later told the NBI that Dennis Jose Borbon, a detainee at the Manila City Jail, was the alleged mastermind of the scam. Borbon is currently facing an estafa case. 

Meanwhile, authorities launched an operation at the prison facility and confiscated the cellphone and SIM card used by the suspects to communicate with the office of Sotto and Senator Francis Tolentino.

“I knew no bishop would do such a thing, and so I set him up through the Senate Sgt. At Arms and the NBI,” Sotto said.

Authorities are set to file charges against Resco and Borbon. — Richa Noriega/VBL, GMA News