Camp BGen Vicente P Lim- The Regional Intelligence Division-Regional Special Operations Unit 4A (RID-RSOU4A), serving as the lead unit, together with the members of Biñan City Police Station, conducted an entrapment operation on February 6, 2024 at a restaurant in Adelina 3 Commercial, Brgy Sto Tomas, Biñan City, Laguna that resulted in the apprehension of a suspect involved in robbery extortion and usurpation of authority.
The joint operation resulted in the arrest of Datu Phe Piang Mastura. Initial investigations revealed that the suspect had falsely presented himself as the legal counsel for the Campos family, the former owners of a commercial land located at Adelina Complex, Sto. Tomas, Biñan City.
The suspect demanded monthly rentals from numerous tenants and complainants, despite lacking the proper legal authority to do so. Alarmed by the suspect’s actions, the victims who choose not to reveal their identities sought the assistance of the RID-RSOU4A and Biñan CPS. Subsequent verification procedures uncovered that the suspect was not listed with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), prompting the authorities to launch an entrapment operation to apprehend the suspect.
The suspect under name of DATU MARCUZ A. MASTURA, 27 residing at Brgy. 710, Malate, Manila also presented himself as the Presidential Assistant on Intelligence Group and Investigation. He was able to extort P700,000.00 pesos from the victims.
Pieces of evidence recovered from the suspect were one Malacañang Palace ID with the name Datu Phe G. Mastura, one Social Welfare identification card named Datu Marcuz A Mastura, boodle money, and a Macbook.
PRO CALABARZON Regional Director PBGen Paul Kenneth T Lucas lauded the successful conduct of the entrapment operation which resulted in the arrest of the suspect who is involved in the series of extortion and estafa in the province of Laguna. He also encouraged the other victims to step up and file a case against the arrested suspect.
“Nananawagan ako sa mga naging biktima ng suspek na makipagtulungan at mag-file ng kaso upang mapanagot at hindi na makapangloko pa gamit ang pangalan ng gobyerno” RD Lucas said.
Meanwhile, the suspect was brought to the Biñan City Office of the City Prosecutor on February 07, 2024 for the inquest proceedings regarding the crimes of robbery and extortion, and usurpation of authority. Arrested suspect are currently being held in the Biñan Component City Police Station for custody.
