Fake Interpol agent nabbed in La Union

By Jun Elias

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – A man posing as a major general of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) was arrested here Monday on charges of swindling, threats and usurpation of authority.

Alfredo Martelino, 53, was arrested based on complaints of residents of this city and in San Juan town whom he promised jobs and P50,000 monthly salary at his lending firm.

Martelino reportedly collected P15,000 from each of the complainants, according to city police chief Supt. Julius Suriben.

The victims also paid P3,000 each to the suspect in exchange for making them members of the Interpol.

The complainants said they entrusted their money to the suspect after he showed them a check worth P1 million as initial fund of the lending company.

After giving him their money, the complainants failed to see the suspect again until they spotted him at the plaza here yesterday.

“The suspect claimed he was a member of the Interpol with a rank of major general. He showed us two Interpol IDs and a badge, and several IDs purportedly issued by the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, among others,” Suriben said, adding the suspect’s company was nonexistent.

The complainants said Martelino threatened to have them arrested by the Interpol when they asked for their money back.

They sought the help of barangay officials, who arrested the suspect and brought him to the police station.

Reports showed the suspect also swindled residents in Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan and amassed at least P3 million.