Fake Cebu City Hall Agent, Job Order Worker Arrested in Alleged Carbon Market Slot Scam

CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — A man accused of posing as a Cebu City Hall agent and a Job Order worker were arrested after an NBI entrapment operation over allegations that they collected tens of thousands of pesos from a Carbon Market vendor in exchange for a storage space they allegedly had no authority to provide.

The National Bureau of Investigation-Cebu District Office arrested the two men during an operation in Barangay Santo Niño, Cebu City, on Sept. 1.

Authorities identified the suspects as Paquito Ebrekes Asignar Jr., also known as “George,” and Rosalito Benturan Aron.

The arrests stemmed from a complaint by a Carbon Market vendor who allegedly paid substantial amounts of money after being led to believe that the men could help secure an additional storage space.

But according to investigators, the promised authority may never have existed.

Vendor allegedly asked for up to P50,000

The case began when vendor Melinda Bingil reportedly sought additional storage space at Carbon Market.

According to the NBI, Asignar allegedly presented himself as someone with authority from the Cebu City Market Office and initially demanded P50,000 per stall.

The amount was later allegedly reduced to P30,000.

Bingil allegedly made two payments of P25,000 each, one in July and another in August. She was also allegedly asked to pay separate processing fees ranging from P3,000 to P6,400 per document.

'I just wanted to stop him'

The vendor reportedly became suspicious after allegedly being asked for more money despite the payments she had already made.

According to the SunStar report, Bingil documented one of the alleged money transactions and later sought help from authorities.

Her concern, she reportedly said, was not simply recovering her money but preventing other Carbon Market vendors from allegedly becoming victims of the same scheme.

That complaint eventually led to an NBI investigation and an entrapment operation.

NBI moves in during alleged marked-money transaction

The two suspects were arrested after allegedly receiving marked money from the complainant during the Sept. 1 operation.

The entrapment took place in Barangay Santo Niño, according to reports.

Authorities are now investigating whether there may have been other individuals who were allegedly approached or asked to pay money under a similar arrangement.

Carbon Market official says suspect had no authority

One of the most important developments in the case came after the complainant reportedly checked with Carbon Market Administrator Elcon Jim Concha.

According to the reports, Concha issued certification stating that Asignar had no authority from the relevant office to collect money or arrange the transaction being offered to the vendor.

Authorities also clarified that Aron was a Job Order worker involved in market enforcement, but allegedly did not have authority to collect money or allocate storage spaces.

The distinction is significant because investigators are examining whether the alleged scheme relied on the appearance of official authority to convince vendors to hand over money.

Cebu mayor's name allegedly used

The case became even more controversial after reports that Asignar allegedly used the name of Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival while trying to establish credibility.

The NBI clarified, however, that the mayor was not involved in the alleged illegal activity.

There is no indication in the reports that Mayor Archival authorised the alleged collection of money or had any connection to the operation under investigation.

Suspect reportedly apologises after arrest

Following the arrest, Asignar reportedly apologised to the complainant.

However, he reportedly suggested that he had been following instructions from others while declining to provide further details about the alleged money collection and possible additional victims.

Those claims remain subject to investigation.

Authorities have not publicly announced final findings on whether other individuals may have been involved in the alleged scheme.

Suspect reportedly has previous cases

According to the SunStar report, NBI investigators said Asignar allegedly has pending estafa cases and an existing warrant of arrest from Lapu-Lapu City involving a similar alleged crime.

Those matters are separate from the current Carbon Market case and should be independently resolved through the legal process.

What charges do the two men face?

The two suspects have been brought before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office and are facing complaints involving:

• Estafa
• Usurpation of authority

The filing of charges or complaints does not amount to a conviction. The allegations will still be subject to the appropriate legal process.

Why Carbon Market vendors are vulnerable

The case shines a spotlight on the vulnerability of market vendors dealing with permits, stalls, storage areas and other government-related processes.

For a small vendor, access to additional storage or a better market location can make a major difference to daily business.

That can also create opportunities for alleged fixers or impostors who claim to have inside connections.

The latest arrests serve as a warning:

Do not hand over money simply because someone claims to know an official.

Verify the person's authority.

Ask for official documentation.

Pay fees only through authorised government channels.

And if something appears suspicious, report it immediately.

The bigger issue: Alleged impostors exploiting public trust

The alleged Carbon Market scheme is particularly concerning because it reportedly involved someone presenting himself as connected to City Hall.

Government offices deal with thousands of people seeking permits, licences, market spaces and other services.

That makes public trust extremely important.

When someone falsely claims official authority, the alleged victim may believe they are dealing with a legitimate government representative.

Authorities are now expected to continue examining whether the alleged scheme targeted only one vendor or whether others may have been approached.

What happens next?

The case will now move through the legal process as prosecutors evaluate the evidence against the two suspects.

Investigators may also determine:

• Whether there are additional complainants
• Whether other vendors made payments
• Whether other individuals were involved
• Whether the alleged scheme operated over a longer period
• Whether additional charges may be filed

For now, the allegations remain under investigation.

The bottom line

Two men were arrested by the NBI in Cebu after allegedly collecting money from a Carbon Market vendor while claiming to have authority connected to Cebu City Hall and the market office.

One suspect allegedly posed as someone authorised to arrange market storage space and reportedly demanded tens of thousands of pesos.

The complainant allegedly paid P25,000 in July and another P25,000 in August, along with separate processing fees, before becoming suspicious and seeking help from authorities.

An NBI entrapment operation was subsequently conducted on Sept. 1.

The two men are now facing allegations involving estafa and usurpation of authority before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office.

The case is still subject to investigation and legal proceedings.

But the arrests send a strong warning to the public:

If someone asks for money while claiming to represent a government office, verify first.

Because sometimes, the official-looking connection may not be official at all.

WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D