Estafa charges filed vs. two brothers

Charges of estafa through falsification of public documents have already been filed before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office against the two siblings arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation for allegedly defrauding a telecommunication company.

Joven Emit, 26, and his younger brother Johnny, 24, were charged for violation of Article 315 in relation to Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code for allegedly employing fraudulent means to obtain Globe corporate lines.

The Emit brothers applied for corporate lines with Globe - a P3,500 monthly subscription plan with free N70 cellular phone - using fake documents from the City Hall and the Department of Trade and Industry.

They pretended to be owners of Joven Trading along Borromeo Street. However, city treasurer Tessie Camarillo certified that the said establishment is just a "carenderia" which was registered on July 7, 2004.

Camarillo said the establishment did not pay its taxes last year and did not anymore renew its business permit this year. Joven, however, admitted to The Freeman that they faked the business permit to support their application with Globe.

Aside from the case filed yesterday, two more cases for estafa through falsification of public documents will be filed against them during a regular filing procedure because they have previously defrauded the company twice.

According to lawyer Manuel Gordon, Globe legal counsel, the Emit brothers have already gotten two N70 cell phones from their Ayala and SM branches. Their third transaction was supposed to be done at the Elizabeth Mall last Thursday, where they were arrested after receiving the phone kit.

Aside from the two other charges that Globe is expected to file later against the Emit brothers, the city government through the NBI is also filing criminal charges against them for falsification of public documents.

It was not yet clear whether or not the DTI would also file the same case because its permit was also falsified. - Fred P. Languido