'Fake lawyer' nabbed for allegedly scamming victims of P700k

A man pretending to be a lawyer was nabbed for allegedly scamming victims into paying him up to P700,000, according to a 24 Oras report from John Consulta on Thursday.

The suspect, identified as Datu Phe Mastura, was able to convince clients that he can help them with land dispute issues in Biñan, Laguna.

“’Yung pera na yun, hindi lang namin pinulot lang yun, pinaghirapan talaga. Gusto namin makulong siya, pagbayaran niya,” said Grace (not her real name), one of the victims.

(We didn’t just pick up that money, we worked for it. We want him to be jailed, let him pay.)

“Fluent siya sa English. Ang dami kong tanong sa kanya tungkol sa case, talagang nasasagot niya. Pag nire-review niya, nasasagot niya ng tama,” added another victim, "Mila."

(He’s fluent in English. I asked him a lot of questions about the case, he answered all the questions. When he reviews the case, he gave correct answers.)

The suspect was discovered after allegedly trying to tarnish the image of a lawyer previously employed by one of the complainants.

“Siniraan kasi niya yung legitimate na abugado na previously nakuha ng complainant. Tin-race niya doon sa Roll of Attorneys and it turned out na itong pangalan nitong suspek na ito ay wala talaga,” said PNP PRO4A Police Lieutenant Colonel Vic Cabatingan.

(He was trying to trash on a legitimate lawyer that the complainant previously hired. They tried to trace his name in the Roll of Attorneys and it turned out that the name of this suspect is not there.)

He was also discovered that the suspect was recently released from jail as he was previously charged with estafa and for using a fake ID.

“January 31 lumaya siya, tapos February 1 nabiktima na itong grupo ng complainant natin. Meron tayong na-confiscate na ID niya [at] naalarma tayo [na] siya ay nagsasabing empleyado ng Malacañang.  Nagkaroon tayo ng coordination sa Malacañang and it turned out na wala silang record sa taong ito,” added Cabatingan.

(He escaped in January 31, and then the complaints from the group cam in on February 1. We were able to confiscate an ID [and] we were alarmed [that] he said that he was an employee of Malacañang. We coordinated with Malacañang and it turned out that they had no records of this person)

“Nagpabili siya ng laptop na mamahalin at ito’y ipinangalan niya sa isang opisina sa Malacañang sa kadahilanang gusto pa niyang makakuha ng additional na biktima sa pamamagitan ng resibo,” said PNP PRO4A Regional Director Police Brigadier General Kenneth Paul Lucas.

(He asked for an expensive laptop and he named it to an office in Malacañang because he wanted to get additional victims by using that receipt)

In an interview, the suspect denied that he introduced himself as a lawyer, adding that he introduced himself as a legal consultant.

“Lahat ng mga cases na binabato sa akin ay hindi totoo and whatever allegations kaya kong sagutin on court,” said Mastura.

(All of the cases being filed against me are not true and whatever allegations there are can be answered in court)

“There are certain reason[s] na kailangan nating gawin or kailangan kong gawin [tungkol sa fake ID]. Kahit alam kong mali, sometimes I have to do it para makatulong sa ibang tao [sa] ibang paraan. Whatever usurpation of authority I did, I’m sorry, and to the Palace,” he added.

(There are certain reason[s] that we need to do or I need to do [regarding the fake ID]. Even if I know that it doesn’t work, sometimes I have to do it to help other people [in] another way. Whatever usurpation of authority I did, I’m sorry, and to the Palace)

Lucas said the suspect will face charges of extortion and usurpation. He also called on other victims to come forward file a case against the suspect. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News