July 19, 2012

      An impostor claiming to be a Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) employee and asked money from a Nursing examinee to ensure a passing grade in the 2011 licensure board examination was arrested in an entrapment by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila the other day.

      The subject is identified as FRANKLIN CINCO TANJUTCO, 54, and a resident of 45 A. Lower Jasmin, Payatas, Quezon City.

      In 2009, complainant Rosita F. Tambalo, met suspect Tanjuco in Pangasinan who introduced himself as a PRC employee. Tambalo said that she has a niece, who is a nursing graduate. Tanjutco demanded P80,000 from complainant so that her niece would pass the December 2009 Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE).

      Complainant gave him the initial amount of P40,000, the balance to be paid in installment. When the result of the nursing board exam was released in March 2010, her niece was not included in the list of board passers. Tanjutco told her niece to take the next NLE and would surely pass. She took the NLE again in July 2010 but failed anew.

      Tanjutco told the complainant that the name of her niece is in the master list of the board passers. He asked her to pay the balance so that he would give her the said master list. On March 22, 2011, complainant deposited P25,000 at PNB Dagupan Branch, Pangasinan to the account of suspect's wife, and another P20,000 deposit days later. However, suspect did not give her the alleged master list.

      On July 4, 2012, Tanjutco asked for P6,000 so that her niece would be included in the list of passers when the result of 2011 NLE would be released in September 2012. They were to meet in the afternoon of July 17, 2012 at a fast food chain in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

      This prompted Tambalo to seek NBI assistance. An entrapment was planned. In the afternoon of July 17, 2012, at a fast food parlor, NBI agents accompanied the complainant and positioned themselves strategically at the place. Moments after, Tanjutco received the marked money from Tambalo, NBI agents approached and arrested him. Tanjutco was detained at the NBI.

      Charges for violation of Art. 315, No. 2(a) (Estafa) of the Revised Penal Code are readied against the suspect before the Manila City Prosecutor's Office.