Batangas CIDG nab 9 suspects scamming rice suppliers

Police arrested nine suspects for scamming rice suppliers, according to a 24 Oras report by John Consulta on Wednesday.

Suspect Maria Leticia Cabañas and 8 others were arrested in an operation of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in Batangas City based on information from victims who previously lost P1.2-million from the group in Pangil, Laguna.

“Nagpresent sila ng projects with a congressman, kaya kaming mga suppliers napanatag na hindi kami iiscamin. 45 units ng aircon na dineliver namin sa Pangil, Laguna. Nung nag-due na yung tseke, tumalbog. Nang tumalbog, nang balikan namin sa location nila, wala na sila, dala nila yung mga aircon na dineliver namin,” said the complainant.

(They presented projects with a congressman, which is why we as suppliers felt confident that they wouldn't scam us. We delivered 45 air conditioning units to Pangil, Laguna. When the check was due, it bounced. When it bounced we returned to their location but they andthe aircon units we delivered were already gone.)

According to the CIDG, the scammers would initially order once and pay in cash to gain the trust of the suppliers, after which they would order in bulk.

Batangas CIDG added that the scammers secured fake documents in different locations in order to conceal their true intentions and identities.

“Magpopost [sila] sa [Facebook]. Tatawag sila sa mga may negosyo tulad ng computers, aircon, mga equipment, goods and other stuff,” said CIDG-Batangas Chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Victor Sobrepeña.

([They] would post on [Facebook]. They call businesses involved in computers, aircon, equipment, goods and other stuff,)

Six other complainants also approached CIDG-Batangas claiming to have been victims of the same group.

“We will be filing syndicated estafa against them and falsification of public documents,” added Sobrepeña.

GMA Integrated News is still trying to get a statement from the suspects as of posting time. -
-Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News