The Dumaguete City police has uncovered the modus operandi of a crime syndicate targeting PNP organizations in the country, police chief Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag disclosed yesterday.

This was after finance police non-commissioned officer of the Dumaguete PNP, SPO2 Bernard Birao, was told by his colleagues, that they had received a call from someone in the region identifying himself as PNP regional director C/Supt. Roderos.

Birao said he was told by the Tagalog-speaking person who identified himself as Gen. Roderos to collect donations and send them through Western Union, because the PNP is sponsoring a certain event.

Birao said he though it was a legitimate order from a superior and he complied with it.

City police chief, Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, said he received a text message about the scam. He said he was suspicious about the identify of the caller, because he recognizes the voice of Gen. Roderos.

Cabanag immediately formed an entrapment team but was told by a Western Union branch that, being a US-based company, it has difficulties in tracing the consignees because the package can be claimed in any branch.

Cabanag said the syndicate probably thought that the PNP is prone to influence by higher officials, who normally comply with directives.

Police stations all over the province were immediately warned against a similar modus operandi and text scams.*JG

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