Cops nab con man posing as Duterte aide

MANILA -- Police arrested Friday a man suspected of falsely claiming to be a member of President Rodrigo Duterte's Cabinet.

Complainant alias Patrick said he met the suspect, JP Cruz, at a business gathering in 2017.

Cruz and a cohort, Lino Lim, allegedly introduced themselves as the assistant secretary and undersecretary of a government agency.

Patrick said he was lured into investing P12 million in cash and P8 million worth of vehicles into the duo's supposed company after they showed photos and videos of themselves with government officials.

The suspects, who are also allegedly behind a separate online scam, broke contact after receiving Patrick's investment, he said.

Cruz was cornered by police officers at a coffee shop in Tomas Morato, Quezon City on the basis of an arrest warrant.

Lim is still at large, while Cruz will face raps for violating the anti-carjacking law. -- Report from Arra Perez, ABS-CBN News