ICPO logs seven scam calls targeting detainees’ families
By Jennifer P. Rendon
By Jennifer P. Rendon
ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo City Police Office has received two more reports involving callers who allegedly posed as police officers to extort money from the families of arrested individuals.
Police Col. Wilbert Parilla, Iloilo City police chief, said the new complaints brought the number of reported scam calls to seven since he assumed office on Jan. 8, 2026.
One of the recent complaints involved Joy, a 20-year-old fishball vendor whose father was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation.
Joy allegedly received a message from a person claiming to be a police officer from Bulacan.
The sender claimed that a drug shipment was on its way to her.
When Joy sought clarification, the sender said the message had been intended for a fellow police officer.
The incident frightened Joy, prompting her to report it to Iloilo City Police Station 7.
In another case, a sibling of an arrested barangay councilor received a call from a person claiming to be a police officer.
The caller claimed he could help fix the case and secure the suspect’s release.
The sibling reported the incident to police.
Authorities planned an entrapment operation, but the caller eventually backed out.
Parilla said police had asked telecommunications companies to preserve data linked to the registered mobile numbers.
The ICPO is also coordinating with the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 6 to gather digital evidence.
Parilla said investigators had not identified any persons of interest behind the scam calls.
An initial investigation indicated that the callers were not from Iloilo, he said.
The ICPO warned the public last week about scammers posing as police officers and demanding money from the families of arrested suspects.
The warning followed reports of individuals falsely identifying themselves as police or court personnel and offering to fix legal cases, drop charges, or facilitate the release of detainees in exchange for money.
“The PNP does not and will not solicit money for any legal process. Bail, fines, and other legal obligations are processed only through lawful, transparent, and official government channels. We urge the public not to be deceived by individuals using the names of police officers for personal gain,” Parilla said.
The ICPO recently recorded two cases in which alleged police officers told the families of arrested suspects that they could fix the cases in exchange for payment.
Police also recorded two incidents in which individuals claimed to be judges and called the families of wanted people.
The callers claimed they had issued the arrest warrants against the wanted individuals.
In another case, a caller claiming to be from Iloilo City Police Station 4 demanded PHP 150,000 from the family of an arrested drug suspect in exchange for his possible release.
Parilla said similar incidents had occurred in the past, including cases in which the families of arrested suspects paid the scammers.
Some victims declined to pursue investigations because they believed the amounts they had paid were small, he said.
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