‘Swindler’ nabbed in Caloocan city hall

MANILA, Philippines - A man who claimed to be a teacher was arrested in the Caloocan city hall Thursday afternoon for allegedly trying to swindle local officials, police said yesterday.

Alan Santiago Domingo, 38, was waiting for his turn to talk to Mayor Oscar Malapitan during the city government’s “People’s Day” meeting when he was spotted by Police Officer 1 Joel Aguares.

Aguares said he recognized Domingo – who claimed to be a teacher from Dagupan, Pangasinan – as the same man he saw on a news program being arrested for swindling in Pangarap Village, also in Caloocan.

After checking Domingo’s solicitation documents – including one allegedly from Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias – he submitted to the mayor’s office, police officers staged an entrapment.   

Domingo was arrested after he signed documents indicating he received P4,800 to buy food intended for a church event.

Domingo was brought into Malapitan’s office at around 5 p.m. and presented to the mayor. Police officers seized a fake police badge, a Professional Regulation Commission card and various solicitation letters intended for other government offices.

He is being held at the Caloocan police headquarters pending the filing of charges.