PRO-6 warns of scam using ‘drugs watchlist’

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

No, police do not call and inform a person if he or she is on the government’s watchlist of illegal drug personalities.

“And if you get a call from someone identifying himself as a policeman then told that you’re on the watchlist, it’s a scam,” Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) spokesperson, said.

Gorero said the PNP does not call a person to tell him or her that they are under suspicion of dabbling in the illegal drug trade.

“Moreso ask for money in order to delete a person’s name if indeed he’s on the watchlist of illegal drug personalities,” he said.

Deleting a person’s name from the watchlist will go through an adjudication process undertaken by concerned agencies.

“It also doesn’t mean that if your name is not on the watchlist anymore, you’re no longer on the police radar,” he said.

Gorero’s warning came on the heels of the arrest of a 32-year old man who identified himself as a member of the Military Intelligence Group and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – 6 (DILG-6).

The complainant, Roda Binueza, claimed that she met Jhaffar Franco Tumamudtamud last July 16.

Tumamudtamud claimed he is from Sara, Iloilo and is temporarily residing in Jaro, Iloilo City.

The following day, Tumamudtamud told her that he was a member of MIG and CIDG-6.

The suspect allegedly told her that she and her live-in partner are on the watchlist he has in possession of.

Tumamudtamud allegedly demanded P2.5 million per person to have their names cleared from the list.

If they don’t agree to pay, there’s a chance that they might be “liquidated.”

Binueza began to doubt after she allegedly received a message that the suspect is just dumping her.

She then asked for help from the National Bureau of Investigation-Region 6 (NBI-6) leading to the suspect’s entrapment.

It was gathered that there were other suspects who were arrested in other parts of the country for using the same modus operandi.

The suspects have been using the scheme to mulct money from unsuspecting civilians.