Quezon City: The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested a gubernatorial candidate and three other suspects for alleged swindling in Guimaras province.
According to Philippines News Agency, CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III announced in a press conference at Camp Crame that the arrested suspects include Maggie Cacho, a gubernatorial candidate in the province, and her secretary, Cayetano Leal. The operation also led to the arrest of two Philippine Coast Guard personnel serving as Cacho's bodyguards during the entrapment operation conducted on February 11 in Barangay Sabang, Sibunag town. The operation was in response to a complaint from a businessman.
Cacho allegedly misrepresented herself to influence the approval of government projects, particularly the Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (PMVIC) emission testing application with the Department of Transportation (DOTr). She demanded a fee ranging from PHP800,000 to PHP1 million for facilitating the approval.
Maj. Gen. Torre disclosed that Cacho falsely portrayed herself as a close relative of the First Family. On September 26, 2024, the complainant advanced PHP400,000 to Cacho to secure the emission testing project. When Cacho failed to deliver on her promise, she reached out to the complainant again, demanding an additional PHP400,000 to expedite the project.
Upon verifying that Cacho had no official connection with the DOTr, the businessman sought the help of CIDG, resulting in the arrest of the four suspects during the entrapment operation. Maj. Gen. Torre remarked that Cacho had been engaging in such fraudulent activities since the assumption of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
During the operation, the CIDG confiscated two caliber pistols from Cacho's bodyguards, who were in violation of the election gun ban. The CIDG is now collaborating with the Philippine Coast Guard to determine the status of the two arrested coast guard personnel.
Maj. Gen. Torre urged the community to report all forms of swindling and other criminal activities, assuring that CIDG will take necessary actions in response.
