4 nabbed for alleged non-remittance of payments of motorcycle buyers

Officials of a motorcycle firm were arrested on Friday for allegedly not remitting buyers' payments to the banks, according to Emil Sumangil's report on "24 Oras."

Jomar Llorica, the CEO of Champion Global Lifestyle Corporation was nabbed by the NCR Police- Intelligence Unit, two years since they he was issued an arrest warrant for the case of syndicated estafa.

Three other officials of the company were also arrested — Ylonna Francisco, Llorica's partner and Rosalie Alcantara. 

According to the complainants, they bought brand new motorcycles from the said company and paid in cash. But after a few months, they were sued by the bank, which has a deal with the company.

It was also discovered that the company did not even remit the payment of their clients to the bank.

"Naloko po kami talaga, kasi nagbayad kami ng buo, yung iba, ipinangutang pa yung pinambayad, but then, hinahabol kami ng banks. Marami po kami, yung iba vendor, home maker, yung iba students," said complainant, Caselle Go. 

(We were really fooled, because we paid in full, the others even loaned for the payment, but then the banks have been chasing us. There are many of us —vendors, home makers, and students.) 

Along with the other complainants, Go rushed to the Champion Global Lifestyle Corporation's office in Quezon City and talked with the staff but no one told them where their payments went. 

"'Yun ang hindi pa nasasagot hanggang ngayon. Since October 1, tinigil nila yung payment sa banks, kasi nag-announce sila ng bankruptcy. Bakit kami ang magbabayad? E bayad na kami," Go stressed. 

(That has not been answered until now. Since October 1, they stopped the payment to the banks, because they announced bankruptcy. Why should we pay? We are already paid.)

According to the victims, they bought a motorcycle unit for P20,000, a little lower compared to the original price. This is apart from the other extra promo or discount.

"Una po sa lahat discounted, second mabilis ang release ng unit kasi during that time, walang casa na nagrerelease, at nageentertain ng cash payment. Gusto ko po talaga, cash. Kasi ang installment, masyadong mahal," Go added. 

(First of all it, is it discounted. Second, the release of the unit is fast because during that time, there are no casas releasing and entertaining cash payment option. I really want to pay in cash. Because the installment terms is too expensive.) 

Police Colonel Eunice Salas, NCRPO spokesperson, said the firm's officials can be considered scammers since they used online promotions and posed as legitimate motorcycle dealers offering units at a low price. 

Llorica, however, denied the scam allegations. 

"Hindi ito scam, registered tayo, at the same time may kontrata ito, na nag-aagree sila sa policy ng company," he said. 

(This is not a scam, we are registered, and at the same time the buyers have contracts, that they agree to the company's policy.)

He said the firm's officials will not run away from the case. 

"In fact marami ng fully paid sa kanila at the same time marami na rin ang nagre-refund. During pandemic, struggle na ang company, nilalaban pa rin namin, hindi na naka-survive," he added.  

(In fact, many of them are fully paid and at the same time many are already refunding. During the pandemic, the company is already struggling, we are still fighting, we are no longer able to survive.) 

Meanwhile, the other suspects, Francisco and Alcantara refused to give any statement. 

The Securities and Exhange Commission (SEC) has revoked the company registration after the reported violations. —Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News