A couple in Bacolod City surmised that a woman tried duping them by accusing them of selling spoiled “empanadas” (crescent-shaped baked or fried pastry filled with a variety of savory filling).
Jireh Grace Poquita and Cyrus Poquita said that the woman alleged her children suffered from food poisoning after consuming “empanadas” bought from Jireh and Cyrus.
Jireh said she received a call from the woman who said that her children were taken reportedly to the hospital for food poisoning.
“Ang sabi, ‘yun ang kinain ng ‘kids ko…’ sumakit umano ang tyan, patuloy ang pagsusuka. Single mother daw siya. Wala umano siyang money,” Jireh said.
Cyrus pointed out there could not be any chance of spoilage of their products, citing that production uses fresh ingredients.
“Pina-check namin ang expiry, usually bago naman, dahil kung mag-production kami yan rin ang time na bumibili kami (ng ingredients),” Cyrus said.
The woman said reportedly she would skip posting the “food poisoning incident” on social media if Jireh and Cyrus send money. The demand made Jireh suspicious.
Later, the couple learned that what happened to them has been the predicament of owners of a roast chicken outlet in Barangay Alijis and an adjacent store that sells "siomai" (dumplings).
The owners were also accused of food poisoning, threatened that if they fail to send money, the woman would rant about the "incident" on social media.
The woman has used the same cellphone number in the said dubious calls.
“Nag-claim sya na pagdating ng gabi or next day, sumakit ang tyan ng dalawa niyang kids. Nandun daw sila ngayon sa Iloilo nagpapa-checkup, nagpapa-lab. Magpapa-refund umano siya sa hospital (bill),” alias “Yum,” a businesswoman, said.
A group of small-medium entrepreneurs in Bacolod City gathered for a meeting on the said concern. They mulled on raising a complaint at the office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the woman’s modus operandi.
GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas tried calling the alleged scammer, but she refused to take the call.
