MANILA - Three persons are now facing cybercrime charges for posing as Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge (OIC) Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., on social media in an attempt to defraud individuals.

In a statement Monday night, Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, PNP-Anti Cybercrime Group OIC, said the suspects whose identities were withheld were arrested in Binangonan, Rizal last July 3 during the implementation of a warrant to search, seize and examine computer data (WSSECD).

Seized from the suspects were two laptop computers, 10 mobile phones, three passbooks, debit cards, and a 500-gigabyte (GB) hard disk drive.

Masauding said the suspects created a Facebook account and used Danao's profile to defraud the complainant and offered to send 1,000 sacks of rice to the latter to support the Police Community Relations activity of Danao.

Based on their conversation online, the suspects convinced the complainant to send PHP50,000 as shipment fee for the delivery of the sacks of rice.

This aroused the complainant's suspicion and immediately reported the matter to the Anti Cybercrime Group, which immediately secured a WSSECD before the court to track the suspects.

The suspects were brought to the Anti Cybercrime Group headquarters in Camp Crame for booking procedures prior to the conduct of inquest proceedings.

They will be facing criminal charges for violation of Republic Act 8484 (Access Devices Regulation Act) as amended by RA 11449 in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).

Masauding added the arrest of the suspects was a result of a comprehensive "social media cyber patrolling, and series of surveillance operations" conducted by the ACG. (PNA)