Police warn of swindlers pretending to be priests

After arresting two alleged fake priests last week, the Eastern Police District (EPD) warned the public against giving donations to swindlers who pretend to be priests. On Monday night, the police arrested Carlo Layson, 41, of Roxas City, Capiz, after he was identified by Fr. Roland Indicio of Santuario de San Jose in East Greenhills, Mandaluyong, while walking on the fourth floor of Gateway in Cubao, Quezon City. San Juan Police chief Supt. Rodelio Jocson said Layson disappeared from the Immaculate Concepcion Chapel in West Crame after pocketing P50,000 donated by Juliet Barrameda and P55,000 from Jennifer Cayabyab. Barrameda and Cayabyab said Layson told them that his niece was in the intensive care unit of San Lazaro Hospital in Manila after she was stabbed by a barbecue stick. Touched by Layson’s story, the two donated money. Reinero Quinto Jr., the treasurer of Immaculate Concepcion Chapel Pastoral Council in West Crame, said Layson also took the P8,300 donation from the church. Layson made Barrameda, Cayabyab and Quinto he was a priest and he even officiated a mass. Layson will be charged with usurpation of authority and estafa. On April 7, Carlo Valdez, 32, was arrested after he tried to solicit money from Alejandrino. Smelling something fishy, Alejandrino ordered his men to do a background check Valdez. Knowing that the cops already knew, Valdez locked himself inside the comfort room at the second floor and escaped by jumping from the window. Police apprehended him minutes later and is now detained at the EPD detention center. –GMANews.TV