Court orders arrest of former athlete David Bunevacz for estafa

MANILA, Philippinens – A warrant of arrest for estafa has been issued against Filipino American athlete-turned-businessman David Bunevacz. The warrant of arrest was issued by Judge Marie Christine Jacob of Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 100. Bunevacz faces three estafa cases for allegedly illegally disbursing the funds of the company in the US that he formerly headed. The two other cases had been raffled to RTC Branch 101 Judge Evangeline Castillo-Marigomen and Branch 104 Judge Thelma Ponferrada. Marigomen and Ponferrada have yet to issue arrest warrants against Bunevacz. Meanwhile, Jacob recommended bail of P120,000 for Bunevacz. The charges, filed by Assistant City Prosecutor Ronald Ancheta, stemmed from the complaints of Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Care Clinic Inc. A director of the firm, Tyrone Ong, accused Bunevacz, who was then corporate president, of illegally disbursing company funds totalling P850,000. Ong said that Bunevacz had asked him to advance money for operation expenses on several occasions. Ong willingly advanced money because he said he trusted Bunevacz. But late in 2007, Ong learned that Bunevacz had been living lavishly, making him suspicious. He then had an audit conducted, which revealed that several anomalous check disbursements not related to the operations of the corporation. The audit revealed that Bunevacz issued two checks dated March 10, 2007, and Feb. 10, 2007, in the total amount of P350,000 as payment to Klassik Motors for vehicle insurance. Bunevacz issued another check for P500,000 dated Sept. 1, 2007, also payable to Klassik Motors as payment for a BMW X5. The complainant said the were not approved the board of directors. Bunevacz denied the allegations in his counter-affidavit, against him saying that the complainant filed the cases as only a retaliation of the cases he had earlier filed against the company. Bunevacz, who resigned as president of the company on Nov. 27, 2007, also said he had issued the checks were following company procedures. In a three-page resolution, the assistant city prosecutor approved the filing of charges because Bunevacz failed to account for the money despite several demands, which would seem to indicate misappopriation. "Respondent was therefore under obligation to return said amount to the corporation since it redounded to his own personal benefit," Ancheta added. - GMANews.TV