Criminal charges await an inmate of New Bilibid Prison (NBP) who allegedly defrauded victims by posing as lawyer Victor Rodriguez, the spokesperson and chief of staff of presumptive President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Ryan Ace Castillejo, a.k.a. Jose Villafuerte, reportedly used a mobile phone to contact his victims.

He was initially thought to be an inmate at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Taguig City before authorities traced him at the Muntinlupa City facility.

“(The) suspect was traced by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) Special Action Unit at the NBP maximum security compound where he’s serving his sentence for two counts of qualified theft. Found in his possession were a mobile phone and notebooks containing names of possibly past or prospective victims,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told reporters via text message.

Guevarra said Castillejo will be charged with cyber fraud.

An investigation was also launched on why the inmate had access to a mobile phone.

“I’ll have this incident further investigated. Possession by a PDL (person deprived of liberty) of a mobile phone is strictly prohibited in the NBP, most especially in the maximum security compound,” Guevarra said. (PNA)