THE National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday arrested a fake NBI agent who tried to recruit applicants who also want to be NBI agents.
The NBI said operatives of NBI-Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division arrested Dinzon Estrella for estafa and usurpation of authority in Pasay City on November 9.
Estrella was charged before the Pasay City prosecutor for Violation of Article 177 (Usurpation of Authority) and Article 172 (Falsification by Private Individual and Use of Falsified Documents) of the amended Revised Penal Code.
The case stemmed from a complaint of victim Victor B. Borromeo against Estrella who claimed the suspect introduced himself as an NBI agent who is authorized to recruit NBI agents.
The suspect required Borromeo to submit a licensed firearm as a condition for membership and even mentioned names of some NBI agents as his superiors and presented documents signed by past and present NBI officials to prove his authority.
Borromeo, who is interested in becoming an agent, applied for membership and thus surrendered his Colt. .45 pistol to the suspect who told the victim that the firearm is to be subjected to ballistic examination before the membership could be processed.
However, the suspect failed to return the victim’s firearm which prompted Borromeo to check with the NBI main cffice where he discovered that Estrella is not a legitimate NBI agent and has no authority to recruit NBI personnel.
When the victim demanded the return of his firearm, Estrella demanded that Borromeo refer him to other applicants for NBI agents before the return of his firearm. Estrella also demanded P18,000 for the mission order, permit to carry firearm, NBI ID, and uniform which he would give to the victim.
With this, an entrapment operation was planned wherein suspect agreed to meet with the NBI operative posing as a prospective applicant. Both parties agreed to meet at Razon’s Restaurant along Seaside, Mall of Asia, Pasay City where Estrella was arrested.
Meanwhile, NBI agents shot dead a suspect and arrested another, who are both wanted for murder, during an NBI operation in San Mateo, Rizal.
The NBI identified the dead suspect as Wilson Ortega while the arrested suspect was identified as Raymund Camero.
The two suspects have warrants for their arrest issued by Judge Mary Josephine P. Lazaro of the Antipolo Regional Trial Court for the murder of lawyer Leandro T. Yanguas, NBI Supervising Agent who was ambushed and killed on May 12, 2012 at Soliven Avenue, Brgy. Mayamot, Antipolo City.
The warrants of arrest were issued against Ortega and Camero, as well as suspects Ariel Abuera, Wilfredo Balbin, Miguel Ranomero, and Bal Makimot.