3 men posing as Bong Go, Army chief and other high-ranking officials nabbed in Rizal

Three men who were posing as the top aide of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine Army chief and other high-ranking officials were arrested in Rizal for supposedly extorting money through phone texts and calls, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police said.

Operatives of the CIDG National Capital Region on Tuesday nabbed Henry Halaghay Bolilan, 67, and his two other companions at around 4:30 p.m. in Barangay Manggahan, Rodriguez, Rizal by virtue of a warrant of arrest.

Recovered from Halaghay were a black bag containing an M1911 caliber .45 pistol with one round live ammunition as well as a piece of magazine loaded with six round live ammunition. Various identification cards, a notebook with a list of government officials and other papers were also recovered from the suspect.

His two companions identified as Antonio Cerbito Oreña and Rogem Montesa Erezo are allegedly the gang's researcher and caller. Recovered from their possession were a caliber .48 revolver loaded with five live ammunition and another caliber .48 firearm with three round live ammunition.

CIDG-NCR chief Senior Superintendent Wilson Asueta said the modus of the suspects is to introduce themselves as high-ranking officials and ask for donation for the government's project. The suspects have posed as Special Assistant to the President Secretary Bong Go and as Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Rolando Joselito Bautista.

The suspects supposedly text and call those persons or entities who have an ongoing transaction with a particular government agency and ask for donation to the Mega Rehabilitation Center to facilitate their pending transaction.

They would ask for grease money once the subject will adhere to their demand. The said money would be then sent through a certain Lanie Sumoroy, who is allegedly the house helper of Bolilan.

"They will introduce as high-ranking government officials like Secretary Bong Go. Meron diyan na nagpakilala sila na Philippine Army general. They will get these numbers, tatawagan nila at sabi ay nanghihingi ng donation like P50,000 para sa Mega Rehabilitation Center," Asueta said.

They will face charges for violation of Section 28 of the Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, syndicated estafa, and robbery extortion. —KG/KBK, GMA News