Lawyer accuses cellphone shop of using NBI as collection agency

The lawyer of the businesswoman accused of defrauding a company engaged in wholesale and retail of mobile phones and prepaid cards yesterday protested against the company's alleged use of the National Bureau of Investigation as its collection agency.

Lawyer Inosencio de la Cerna made a formal protest at the NBI yesterday by way of a letter addressed to executive officer Ernesto Macabare.

De la Cerna said that Integrated Distribution Network Incorporated is using the NBI as its collection agency when it filed last Friday a complaint for violation of Batas Pambansa Bilang 22 otherwise known as Anti-Bouncing Check Law against his client, Delia Simon.

De la Cerna said that the filing of the complaint was made by the officials of IDNI, despite the fact that negotiations are on to settle the problem.

De la Cerna alleged that IDNI officials gave the NBI wrong information about his client to pressure her to pay her obligation. De la Cerna asked the NBI to exercise utmost discretion in determining the motive of the complainants.

But, Macabare said they will go on with their investigation because there was a valid complaint against De la Cerna's client. Macabare added that De la Cerna has nothing to worry about if his client is not guilty of the charge because the NBI will terminate the case if they found no evidence.

Lawyer Jade Ponce, counsel for the complainant, denied giving wrong information to the NBI. Ponce likewise denied that there is an ongoing negotiation between his client and that of De la Cerna's. Simon was charged by Dianeta Eboran and Ronaldo Chua, finance and distribution managers of IDNI, respectively, of estafa before the NBI.

IDNI officials, who operate Audionet, asked the NBI to initiate the filing of estafa and violation of the Anti-bouncing Check Law against Simon.

Simon allegedly purchased from IDNI 4,000 pieces of P300 Globe prepaid cards, 6,700 pieces P100 Globe cards and 1,000 Touch Mobile prepaid cards last September 28 amounting to P1.9 million. But, instead of paying in cash, Simon allegedly issued a personal check.

Because the IDNI officials refused the checks, Simon convinced them by issuing a total of P2 million checks with a promise that it would be "in-cleared" on the following day and it will not go through the process of three-day clearing period.

However, IDNI officials found out that the account has no funds. Simon was reportedly given enough time to deposit the money, but the latter allegedly ignored the demands. - Fred P. Languido/MEEV