The Philippine authorities recently issued an urgent notice, alerting the public to be vigilant against criminals impersonating officials from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). These individuals are suspected of engaging in illegal activities such as "fake arrests" (hulidap), using law enforcement as a pretext for extortion, severely undermining social order and public trust.
According to a report by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), a woman impersonating a government employee claimed to be a staff member of both the BI and PAOCC, demanding a large ransom from the wife of a detained employee of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO). This woman has been blacklisted by the Bureau of Immigration and will be banned from entering the country in 2024.
In another case, two travel agency employees impersonated PAOCC agents and solicited bribes from the relatives of a former POGO employee. They have been accused of impersonating government officials and engaging in fraudulent activities.
PAOCC emphasizes that its law enforcement actions are always conducted in cooperation with regular law enforcement agencies such as the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and it never operates alone or secretly. The government urges the public to be cautious and not to trust unidentified "law enforcement officers," especially when they do not present official identification or fail to clearly explain the legal basis for their actions.
If you encounter suspicious individuals or similar incidents, please immediately call the hotline 0917-130-0792 to report the situation. Law enforcement agencies will intervene and take action promptly.
The government reiterates that protecting community safety requires the participation of all citizens. The public is urged to remain highly vigilant against fraudsters using fake identities to commit crimes, and to work together to maintain good social order.
