The Bacolod City police believe that there could be about 2,000 Negrenses, mostly retired teachers, who were victimized by a suspectedsyndicate offering instant cash returns for every investment they made.

City Police Director, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, said that charges for syndicated estafa and use of false treasury notes were filed before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday against Altres de Dios, 33, of Mangan-Vaca in Zambales, Eustaquio Mejo Jr., 38, of Barrio Bareto, Olongapo City, also in Zambales province,president and vice president for treasury of the organization, respectively.

He said the same charges were also filed against their members Gregorio Deslate, 58, of Molo District, Jesus Montes, 61, of La Paz District, Lucero Dolores, 61, and Carmela Umadhay, 42, of Jaro District, all of Iloilo City and Vicenta Garcia, 59, of Cagayan.

Maribeth Legazpi, said she joined Voice for Global Solution on Poverty Association in 2010 and paid P150 in membership fee and P250 in annual dues.

Legazpi said De Dios promised to give them a Starex van and a free trip to any part of the Philippines if they can recruit additional members.

She said they were made to pay P1,000 to P2,000 for a checkbook and P10 million will be deposited in their accounts after December 23, the day they said, was the “proclamation” at the Smart Araneta Coliseum of the father of De Dios, whose name was not disclosed, as the new King of the Philippines, and him as the new prince, while President Benigno Aquino will then become the country’s prime minister.

When they asked where the P10 million will come from, Legazpi said that De Dios told them it will come from the “Almighty.”

Investigation further showed that the supposed “proclamation” was first scheduled in 2010 and in 2011 at the Quirino Grandstand but did not push through because the crowd did not reach one million.

Aside from Legazpi, other victims who went to the Bacolod City Police Office yesterday but they opted not to be interviewed.

De Dios denied that their group is a syndicate or bellied the allegations that they promised wealth to their members.

He said their advocacy is to implement a fair living among the Filipinos, who will be governed by a Spiritual government after December 23.

De Dios stressed that they were victims of a set-up because Legazpi, who is the leader of their group in Bacolod, invited them to attend the election of officers of their local chapter but he was instead, arrested by the police.

He also denied that they are going to take over the government, contrary to what Legazpi said.

With the arrest of De Dios and his companions, De la Paz said the operation of the group will surely be crippled.

He also said they believe that the group has also duped more residents in other provinces in the country because they have a lot of localchapters.*APN

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