Toyota to cooperate in case filed vs. team head

CEBU, Philippines - The management of Toyota Financial Services Philippines (TFSPH) has assured its clients that they do not condone illegal activities by their employees following the arrest of one of its team heads in the Visayas and Mindanao by the National Bureau of Investigation for alleged extortion.

In a statement sent to The FREEMAN Philip Pabelico said their company will cooperate with the investigating agency and is willing to provide any information that the NBI needs in the case it filed against Angelo Yabut.

“We would like to assure our clients that TFSPH does not, in any event, tolerate such actions from our employees,” Pabelico said.

“We are prepared to take whatever legal and administrative actions necessary should anyone from our organization be proven to engage in such illegal and unethical transactions,” he added.

Pabelico is one of the officials of Toyota Financial Services Philippines in Manila.

Yabut was arrested by the NBI two weeks ago during an entrapment operation following a complaint from a customer that he allegedly extorted money from him.

The prosecutor’s office however downgraded the robbery extortion case that the NBI filed to light threats because of lack of evidence to support the former.

Gerardo Luis Ibaseta accused Yabut of allegedly demanding P30,000 from him for the favor he made to release the vehicle which the TFSPH had taken custody of due to delinquent payments.

Ibaseta bought the vehicle from Elma Fortuna and claimed he was not aware that Fortuna has pending obligations with Toyota.

According to Ibaseta, he was forced to pay the delinquent account on top of the legal fees and Yabut allegedly demanded the additional amount for the release of his vehicle.

Ibaseta sought the help of the NBI which resulted in Yabut’s arrest. — Fred P. Languido/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)