Vizcaya cops corner 3 alleged bigtime swindlers

BAYOMBONG, Philippines - Three suspected swindlers were held over the week in the northern province of Nueva Vizcaya for allegedly duping business owners of cash in return for a service of swift bank loan processing. Authorities identified the suspects as Gerald Reyes, resident of Camp Tinio in Cabanatuan City, Horacio Santos of Barangay Aristis, also in Cabanatuan, and Suzette Arevalo of Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya. Victims identified as Juanita Guinid, Noveline Tagure, Judith Kindao and Jonalyn Dumingay, store owners inside the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal (NVAT) compound, alleged that Reyes approached them on Sept. 8 and offered them a service of loan processing for Banco De Oro for a fee. The victims said that Reyes demanded a payment of P3, 900 for each of the applicants from which an advance of P1, 500 was agreed upon. The victims, however, became suspicious since Reyes and his group wanted to transact with them at night time. “Sabi nila mababa ang interest tsaka walang collateral at walang co-maker pero nagduda na ako nung tinanong ko na kung kailan i-release ang loan ko pero iba ang kanilang sinasabi," said Guinid. (They told me that the interest will be minimal and that there’s no need for collateral and co-maker but when I asked them (through text) for the release schedule of my loan, I got an evasive answer.) This prompted the suspects to visit the BDO branch in Solano town the following morning and were informed by management that the bank does not authorize any agent or loans processor to act in their behalf. Reyes also allegedly offered to furnish the victims with a mayor’s permit and DTI certificate if they still do not have the required papers for the processing of their loans. A police report showed that while elements from the Bambang police force led by Police Inspector Joefrey Bulong were patrolling the NVAT area at around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, the victims approached them and complained of the alleged questionable activity of Reyes. The suspects happened to be at the site at the time to collect the balance payments of the applicants. Upon inspection of Reyes’ belongings at the police station, a mayor’s permit for victim Juanita Guinid and a DTI certificate which are believed to be fakes were found. Bag full of tricks Bambang’s licensing officer Filipina Salamanca confirmed to GMANews.TV that the mayor’s permit was a mere scanned copy of the original but an investigation into the matter revealed that the permit number belonged to another business name and the Official Receipt (OR) number belonged to yet another businessman. “The mayor’s permit does not bear the required gold seal, and I think some control numbers aside from the permit number and OR number, are fictitious," Salamanca said. More documents were also found including loan applications by some local government units. A loan application by the town of Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, which Reyes said was legal, amounted to some P84 million. However, Reyes denied the allegations. He said his work is completely above board and that his office bearing the business name Telecard Marketing is based in Makati City. “I am 100% sure that all my transactions are legal," he said. He also claimed to be knowledgeable in loan transactions, being a former bank manager of Prudential Bank in Cabanatuan for 19 years. Santos claimed that he was just hired by Reyes as helper and that he has no knowledge of the latter’s activities. On the other hand, Arevalo said that she was just recruited by Reyes who she came to know only a few days ago. Mayor’s wrath Bambang Mayor Benjamin Cuaresma, whose signature was forged, also filed a case against the suspects. Talking with GMAnews.TV, Sr. Supt. Pedro Danguilan, provincial police director said that “victimized" businessmen from the neighboring provinces of Isabela and Quirino have also signified their intent to file charges against the same group. “May iba pang negosyante na naloko pero nahihiya silang umamin na nabiktima sila (There are other businessmen who fell prey but they are ashamed to admit it)," hesaid. Chief Inspector Janton Albano, Bambang police chief, said that they will dig deeper into the matter to find out if there are still more who have been “victimized" by the group. “I urge the officials of BDO and DTI to file charges as well," he said Reyes, Santos and Versoza are now in jail at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Solano town. - GMANews.TV