The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced Monday the arrest of a fugitive accused of both scamming individuals and statutory rape, following an entrapment operation at a shopping mall in Manila.

NBI director Jaime Santiago identified the suspect as Erick Pascual Balsomo, who allegedly posed as a Land Transportation Office (LTO) employee to defraud people seeking driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations.

NBI agents apprehended Balsomo last 28 July 2025, inside a mall in Malate, Manila and the arrest came after weeks of surveillance and a complaint from a victim of his schemes.

Investigators discovered Balsomo was not only a con artist but also a wanted fugitive with an outstanding warrant for statutory rape, issued by the Regional Trial Court of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. The rape charge carries no bail option.

During his arrest, agents found Balsomo was carrying a concealed bladed weapon, leading to additional charges.

Balsomo faces multiple charges, including usurpation of authority for impersonating a government official, estafa for deceiving victims, and illegal use of a fictitious name. He also faces charges under the Cybercrime Prevention Act for online deception and for carrying a concealed deadly weapon.