OPERATIVES of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested last Monday in Taguig City a fake undersecretary who offered positions and contracts in government for millions of pesos.
Edward Diokno Eje, 42, alias Vaughn Vincent, was nabbed by policemen who responded to a complaint of a gun-poking incident on 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig at around 1:30 p.m.
Eje, who introduced himself as connected with the Office of the President, yielded a cal. 45 pistol with bullets and a hand grenade.
In a press conference at Camp Crame, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said Eje is under investigation for involvement in a scam, specifically appointments and government contracts for sale.
Cruz, a retired police general, said eight persons recently showed up at Malacanang supposedly to take their oath as undersecretaries and assistant secretaries.
“There was no such schedule and there was no such appointment,” said Cruz.
Authorities said they are preparing charges against Eje.
Told by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin to look into the incident, Cruz said he sought the assistance of the CIDG in the conduct of the investigation that led to the identification of Eje.
Cruz said Eje has been introducing himself as an undersecretary and asking money in exchange for appointment to government positions, including undersecretary, assistant secretary and commissioners.
“The minimum (fee) he is charging is P1 million. The maximum he got from a victim is P300 million who he promised an undersecretary position,” Cruz said, without naming the victims.
Cruz said Eje has been bragging that he knows President Duterte, Vice President Sara and her relatives and even Bersamin and has been showing to his victims some pictures of him with these government officials.
“These government officials won’t object if people want to have a photo opportunity with them. Those were pictures he (Eje) used and he even has a bogus ID. In fact, he even went to the point of issuing IDs for assistant secretary positions,” said Cruz.
He said Eje also offered government contracts to actresses Rossana Roces and Gwen Garci, who lost P2.15 million and P1 million, respectively, to the suspect.
CIDG director Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. said Eje has victimized dozens of people who lost about P1 billion.
“The appointment for sale and government contract for sale scheme has victimized dozens of people who lost nearly P1 billion to the scammers,” Caramat said, adding they are investigating who the cohorts of Eje are.
“For now, we are still looking into it but as of now we got the mastermind,” he said.
Cruz said Eje met with his victims in five-star hotels accompanied by some people apparently posing as Presidential Security Group members wearing barong with the Malacanang logo during the meeting.
