June 1, 2012

        A member of a swindling syndicate who enticed prospective buyers of supposedly auctioned goods at the Customs bureau was arrested by operatives  of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in an entrapment operation in Intramuros, Manila last Wednesday.

       Atty. Nonnatus Caesar R. Rojas, Officer-in-Charge of the National Bureau of Investigation, identified the arrested suspect as   MARIO REYES OCAMPO, 59, and residing at  of No. 362 Madrid St., Tondo, Manila.

     The case arose from a complaint of Oliver Fabio and Louie Ongpauco who were victimized by a group of swindlers who misrepresented themselves as employees of the Bureau of Customs. They were induced to buy supposed goods being auctioned at the Bureau of Customs at much lower prices than the prevailing costs in the market.

        Convinced of the very affordable prices that was offered, the complainants agreed to buy the items. However, after they paid the amount of P54,000.00 for the price of the two (2) units Nikon camera, the group could no longer be contacted and the items they bought were not delivered to them. Thereafter, they filed a complaint with the NBI.

    Upon receipt of the complaint, the NBI Criminal Intelligence Division (CRID) under Atty. Romy Bon Huy Lim verified from the Bureau of Customs the authenticity of the employment of Ocampo. Certification from said office revealed that he is not connected thereat.

   The modus operandi of the group starts by contacting prospective victims through cellular phones and they only personally appear to the victims when they receive the money as payment for the goods on sale.

   On May 30, 2012, during an entrapment Ocampo was arrested by NBI agents after receiving marked money from the complainants inside a fastfood parlor in Intramuros, Manila.

  The suspect was presented for Inquest Proceedings before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila and was recommended to be prosecuted for Attempted Estafa and Falsification of Public Documents. He is presently detained at the NBI jail.

 The public is warned from entertaining calls or text messages offering for sale of items allegedly to be an auctioned at the Bureau of Customs.