Anthony Suntay denies involvement in fraud

Sportscaster Anthony Suntay has denied allegations that he committed estafa, a crime that caused him to spend a weekend in jail earlier this month.

Suntay was arrested on Saturday, November 14, in Cavite due to a warrant of arrest issued in 2014 for an alleged crime committed in 2012.

In a statement, Suntay said the case happened more than three years ago when a golfer hit a hole-in-one in a tournament in which he said he only served as an emcee.

"I am innocent of estafa! There was no fraud involved! I was actually just helping a friend with his desire to raise money for underprivileged children with cancer," Suntay said.

Suntay said the golfer, Jessa Gumanoy, was claiming her prize, a Mitsubishi ASX, after hitting a hole-in-one at a golf tournament for charity in March 2012.

He, however, said that Gumanoy hit the hole-in-one from a nearer distance of just 120 meters instead of the 180 meters specified in the tournament organizers' agreement with Diamond Motors that put up the car prize.

Suntay said the tournament director apologized for his failure to set up the hole as agreed with the prize sponsor.

"(W)e were truly sorry and understood her grief over the incident but our hands were tied," Suntay said.

GMA News Online sought Gumanoy for comment but was told she would only grant an interview in the presence of a lawyer and after three days of prior notice.

Suntay said the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. came up with a budget for an LED TV for Gumanoy, which he said was delivered in a week.

He said he later met with Gumanoy and her lawyer at the Aguinaldo golf course, and the tournament organizer Les Reyes and his lawyer.

"We went over the merits of her complaint because she was still adamant about getting her vehicle. We explained our position that inasmuch as we wanted to give her the vehicle, it was out of our hands," he said.

Suntay added that there was communication between the lawyers of both parties after the talk. When the discussions ended, he said he assumed that the issues had been resolved.

The warrant for Suntay's arrest was issued August 2014 and the Alias Warrant was issued June 2015.

Suntay said he was made to stay in the General Trias Police Station until Monday morning when he posted bail.

He said that the TV network that employs him has also put all his assignments on hold "because they feel that this negative publicity will not help their image."

"So I am effectively out of a job," Suntay said.

"I will face all these false charges in court, and I am certain I will be vindicated in this case," he said. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/NB, GMA News