OPERATIVES of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested a gubernatorial candidate and her cohort for swindling/estafa in Guimaras last Tuesday afternoon.
A report from the CIDG said two security escorts of the candidate, both members of the Philippine Coast Guard, were also arrested for violation of the Commission on Elections gun ban.
Arrested for swindling were Maggie Cacho, 65, who is running for governor of Guimiras in the coming elections; and her companion, Cayetano Leal, 48.
The two were arrested in an entrapment operation in Barangay Sabang in Sibunag town at around 4 p.m.
The CIDG said the two were arrested “for swindling after a confidential agent, together with a police arresting officer, handed over P400,000 (in) transaction money.”
Also arrested were two PCG members — Apprentice Seaman Marwin Parpan, 31 and Seaman Second Class Rico Mayland, 21 — who are reportedly detailed with Cacho.
They were accosted for violation of the election gun ban. Seized from the two were two cal. 45 pistols with ammunition.
In a statement, the CIDG said Cacho “claimed to be a first cousin of the First Lady, referring to First Lady Liza Marcos.
The CIDG said the suspect misrepresented herself to a complainant as having influence over the approval of government projects, specifically a Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center emission testing project with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for a fee of P800,000 to P1 million.
It said the complainant gave the suspect P400,000 in advance payment to secure the emission testing project on September 26 last year.
Despite the delivery of the money, the suspect failed to fulfill her promise.
The victim later found out from the DOTr that Cacho “has no connection with the agency,” the CIDG said. This prompted the victim to seek police assistance.
The CIDG said the suspect contacted the victim earlier this month to ask for an additional P400,000 payment “to expedite the proposed project” at her residence, leading to the entrapment operation.
The CIDG said Cacho and Leal were “caught in the act of receiving the entrapment money.”
