THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a woman who posed as a lawyer and a sister of the late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
Myrna Rosales Velez who was arrested last Monday is facing usurpation of authority charges after she pretended to be a lawyer.
According to the NBI, Velez's alleged victim claimed the suspect introduced herself as Attorney Paula Dimpna Beatriz Palma Defensor and offered to handle her cases at Regional Trial Court in San Mateo, Rizal.
Velez allegedly received a total of P580,000 from the complainant for the legal services she rendered.
Aside from her alleged links to officials through her late sister, Santiago, the suspect claimed she is a consultant of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.
The complainant had sought the NBI's help after Justice Undersecretary Raymund Mecate informed the complainant that there is no consultant at the Department of Justice. She also learned that the late senator Santiago's sister is residing abroad.
Upon investigation, the NBI discovered that Velez has an outstanding warrant of arrest for estafa and illegal recruitment issued on May 2007 and December 2008, respectively, in different courts.
Velez was arrested immediately by NBI agents upon learning that she is at the NBI premises last Monday, May 29, processing her NBI clearance.
Velez is now detained at the NBI detention facility. (VoxPop Philippines)
