City Police nabs suspected member of swindling group

A suspected member of a swindling group, reportedly operating nationwide, fell to authorities at the fast-craft terminal in Pier 4 yesterday morning, or days after two of his alleged victims reported their case to the Cebu City Police theft and robbery section.

TRS operatives, Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes, responded and went to the Supercat terminal where they caught the 24-year-old suspect, Dennis Elliot, who was about to leave for Ormoc City.

Elliot, a bachelor who hails from Merida town in Leyte and also resides in Joaquin Street at barangay Mabolo, used the name Wacky Gaisano in his ticket. He also used sometimes the surname Chiongbian, said the police.

The alleged victims, who positively identified the suspect, were 20-year-old Buddy Klinar, of Vista Grande in Talisay City, and 22-year-old Daniel Tomaquin, of barangay Lorega-San Miguel in Cebu City.

Tomaquin said he first got acquainted with Elliot through Internet chatting where the latter identified himself as a Chinese national who is holding a reality challenge game.

The first challenge, held last December 31, was to sell a cell phone in Colon Street, after which they would eat together before going to the next challenge. Elliot allegedly told the two that the money they earned from selling the cell phone would be donated to the TV network's Bantay Bata 163.

Tomaquin said that, after donating the money, the last challenge would be to take to his house and introduce to his family Mr. Elliot.

Tomaquin said they reached his house at Lorega at about 6pm that day where Elliot was able to convince his sister to give to the suspect her cell phone worth P14,000. Elliot left and could not be located anymore after that.

The other victim, Klinar, said he met Elliot in Urgello Street where he was also lured to participate in the reality extreme challenge.

Klinar said he was taken to the Shangri-La Hotel on a taxi but, as they neared the hotel, he was told to deposit to Elliot all his valuable items purportedly to avoid disqualification from the contest.

Klinar yielded his jewelry, two expensive cell phones, and watch worth P40,000, but when he later asked Elliot to return his valuables the suspect allegedly got angry instead.

TRS chief, Sr/Insp. Alexis Relado, said the police is set to file today estafa case against Elliot who, according to Insp. Bastes, admitted to being a member of the swindling group that usually targets foreigners.

Elliot, in an interview with reporters yesterday, admitted to the crime saying, "Tinuod na" but added he only did it for his group, composed of seven others, two of who were women.

Elliot confessed they already had many victims but they gave their proceeds to their boss he named only as a certain Dwen Lareno, who is based in Manila. He in turn earns P20,000 monthly. He further said the group hired him in Manila and shouldered the cost of his college studies there. - Norvie S. Misa/RAE