Re-filing of large-scale estafa
raps vs. 8 NGO leaders eyed

The Bacolod City Police will re-file the large-scale estafa charges this week against eight leaders of a non-government organization it has accused of duping some residents, by allegedly offering instant cash returns, BCPO director, Senior Supt. Ricardo dela Paz, said yesterday.

As of yesterday, De la Paz said 13 victims have already issued official statements and they will re-file the case before the City Prosecutor’s Office.

He added that they can still re-file the case and it will not cause double jeopardy since it had been dismissed at the fiscal’s level.

The case had been dismissed earlier due to lack of probable cause.

City Prosecutor Emmanuel Lupisan had said he found probable cause to pursue charges in court for the use of false treasury or bank notes against Altres de Dios, 33, of Mangan-Vaca in Zambales and Eustaquio Mejo Jr., 38, of Barrio Bareto, Olongapo City, also in Zambales province, president and vice president for treasury of the Voice for Global Solution on Poverty Association, respectively.

Also to be charged are Lina Deslate, 58, 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 Valley.

The suspects were released from detention on orders of Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 3 Judge Napoleon Diamante when they posted bail of P5,600 each.

De la Paz also urged other victims to come out and give their statements to the police to strengthen their evidence. They will be assisted by their legal counsel Gregorio del Pilar, he said.

Maribeth Legazpi, the former president of the group in Bacolod, said they were made to pay P1,000 to P2,000 for a checkbook and told that P10 million will be deposited in their accounts after December 23, the day, that 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, with him as the new prince. President Benigno Aquino will then become the country’s prime minister, he said.

Legazpi added they were also told that they will be given Starex vans and a free World and Philippine tour if they are able to recruit additional members, but De Dios vehemently denied this.*LTG

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Three in shooting
incident arrested

Three persons allegedly involved in a shooting incident were arrested in a hot pursuit operation by Station 7 policemen in Brgy. Vista Alegre, Bacolod, at about 6 a.m. yesterday.

Case investigator, SPO1 Jim Agustos Velasco, identified the suspects as Rodrigo Acubi, 20, Michael John Tomo, 21, and Jestoni Malapitan, 21, all of Brgy. Vista Alegre.

Velasco said Acubi, Tomo and Malapitan are members of a fraternity, of which brothers CJ and Joseph Sarsita are part.

The Sarsitas are the primary suspects in the shooting where three persons, Jenny Boy Saludar, 20, Joseph Narciso, 21, and Juanito Escora Jr., 13, all of Brgy. Vista Alegre, were injured, Velasco said.

Initial investigation showed that Saludar and Narciso sustained gunshot wounds on their left feet when the suspects shot them at 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

Escora, who was at the area, also sustained an injury on his left foot caused by a stray bullet, he also said.

Velasco, however, said the Sarsitas are still at large, and the police are investigating the motives for the shooting.

The victims were treated at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, while the three suspects are now detained at Station 7 lockup cell.*LTG

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2 men caught robbing
insurance firm: police

Two persons were caught in the act of robbing an insurance firm at about 12:15 a.m. at Cottage Road, Bacolod City, yesterday and were arrested, Station 2 police records showed.

Senior Police Officer 1 Dante Escorpion identified the suspects as Mark Anthony Villa of Purok King Fisher, Brgy. 16, and Boy Infante of Purok Sigay, Brgy. 2.

Escorpion said he was patrolling the area with PO2 Gilbert Monteban and PO1 Gerwim Catolico when the suspects tried to leave the place on board their motorcycle.

Initial investigation showed that Villa and Infante destroyed the knob using a bolt cutter, he said. Recovered from the suspects were two typewriters, a bolt cutter, a padlock chain, and ream of bond paper, he added.

Escorpion also said they filed robbery charges against Villa and Infante before the City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday. The suspects are now detained at Station 2 lockup cell, he added.*LTG

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