NBI files two additional charges against travel agency owner

The National Bureau of Investigation has filed two more criminal charges against a travel agent that was earlier indicted for alleged swindling activities.

NBI supervising agent Rennan Oliva said the additional charges were filed at the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office against Luisa "Pido" Ditan, owner of Cebu Rite Travel International, Inc., after two more people went to the NBI to lodge also their complaints.

The complainants, Jaeckel Loseñara and Aldren Eguia, lately sought the help of the NBI alleging that Ditan also swindled them. They said they went to Ditan's travel agency in barangay Lahug to book their flights abroad.

Loseñara said he went to Ditan's agency last April 5 and paid P34,000 for a Hong Kong flight, supposedly for last May 15. However, Ditan allegedly moved the scheduled departure to May 22.

But on the date of his supposed departure he found out that the electronic ticket issued to him was allegedly counterfeit causing the airline firm to deny him the flight, Loseñara said.

Eguia, for his part, said he bought a ticket last April 16 from Ditan's agency for his travel for Hong Kong, and paid P21,536 for such trip that was scheduled last May. He too alleged that the ticket that Ditan gave him was later found to be a fake one.

Loseñara and Eguia said they later sent Ditan demand letters for reimbursement of their money but they alleged that Ditan could not be found anymore. Ditan was no longer holding office in her former location in Lahug, they alleged.

Several alleged victims of Ditan had earlier went to the NBI to complain of similar experience prompting the NBI to indict the travel agency owner. - Fred P. Languido