WOMAN NABBED FOR SWINDLING P10M FROM ENTREPRENEURS
SAN JUAN CITY, APRIL 21, 2008 (STAR) By Non Alquitran - Police arrested over the weekend a woman who allegedly duped young entrepreneurs of millions of pesos worth of expensive jewelry, bags and cell phones in San Juan City.
At least 10 complainants trooped to the office of Superintendent Rodelio Jocson, San Juan City police chief, when they found out about the arrest of Patricia Grace Sevilla, alias Trisha, 29, of Loyola Heights in Quezon City.
“As of the latest count, at least P10 million worth of items was credited to Sevilla, who sweet-talked her victims into entrusting their expensive wares to her,” Jocson said.
He said Sevilla’s alleged victims have called him up to signify their intention to surface and file corresponding charges against her.
Sevilla was brought to the San Juan City police by one of her alleged victims, Samad Marabong, 33. Marambong said he entrusted his money to Sevilla, who failed to deliver 16 cell phones worth P283,000 last April 17.
During the investigation, Jocson said they came across people who claimed to be Sevilla’s victims –Jescelen Co, 27; Donnabelle Lee, 43; and Eddwin de Dios, 41. They said she duped them of amounts ranging from P500,000 to P3 million in several transactions.
According to Jocson, Sevilla also has several standing arrest warrants for estafa.
For her part, Sevilla said she is willing to pay the complainants the money she owes them. “But as of now I have no money on hand,” she told Jocson.
The San Juan City police are preparing to charge Sevilla with large-scale estafa.
Arrested counterfeiter was one of BSP’s most wanted
Monday, April 21, 2008 The alleged mastermind in the manufacture and distribution of fake P500 bills, recently arrested by the Manila police, has been on the wanted list of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for counterfeiting since 2006.
BSP officials identified Richard Dam, 35, as a notorious counterfeiter who works with his brother Edward, according to Meisic police station chief Superintendent Nelso Yabut. Edward was arrested by combined operatives of the BSP and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Jan. 10, 2006.
Last April 16, Dam and three of his cohorts were nabbed by the police in Binondo and Sta. Cruz districts in Manila.
During his arrest, Dam misled policemen by giving his name as Richard Reyes. Recovered from the suspects were five fake P500 bills, 11 uncut P500 bills with identical serial numbers, a laptop, a computer printer, several pieces of blank yellow paper, assorted printing paraphernalia, a sachet of shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia.
Dam’s group reportedly sells the fake P500 bills for P150 each. They also allegedly distributed the counterfeit bills to pay for their tabs in beerhouses and taxi fares. Later on, the syndicate penetrated Binondo shopping malls by purchasing goods using the fake bills as payment. Yabut said he has received numerous complaints from storeowners who were paid with the fake money.
Aside from earlier charges of counterfeiting and violation of the anti-drugs law, Dam will be charged with concealing his true name, according to Yabut. — Nestor Etolle
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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