Estafa rap filed vs. ‘Bikoy’ over beauty pageant fiasco

A businessman has filed an estafa complaint with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the man claiming to be the "Bikoy" who implicated members of the First Family in the illegal drug trade.

Arven Valmores, president and CEO of Ardeur World Marketing Corp., a perfume distributor, on Friday accused Peter Joemel Advincula of organizing a beauty pageant using his company's name and logo and disappearing without paying more than P300,000 in wages and prizes to production staff and pageant winners.

The Philippine National Police has launched a manhunt operation for Advincula, who surfaced briefly at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines last Monday to stand by allegations against President Rodrigo Duterte's family members and a close associate that were made by a hooded figure in an online video series.

According to the police, Advincula is already wanted for estafa and illegal recruitment. The man himself said he had served a prison term for estafa but was released in 2016.

In a separate statement, Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde said Advincula has been using different names to conceal his real identity such as R.B. Santos, John Paul Rafael Benedict Santos, Arcangel de Leon, Archie Santos, Lory Camba and Jaime Gaupo Jr.

In a three-page complaint, Valmores alleged Advincula, then an independent seller of his company's product, staged a beauty pageant in Polangui, Albay last Aug. 11 and used his company's name and logo for promotional activities without his knowledge and consent.

Valmores claimed Advincula did not attend the coronation night and left the pageant winners and the production staff unpaid. The businessman, whom the aggrieved persons had sought for help, said he was unable to locate Advincula.

"Feeling the pressure and potential negative impact" on his business and reputation, Valmores told the DOJ he was "forced" to settle Advincula's unpaid account of P304,422 to 28 people.

Valmores said Advincula had been "untraceable" until he appeared at the IBP headquarters, prompting him to finally file the complaint.

The IBP's National Center for Legal Aid has declined Advincula's request for free legal assistance. — with Anna Felicia Bajo/MDM/KBK, GMA News