5 "swindlers" fall in entrapment

CEBU, Philippines - Anthony Barros, 35; Ronald Lipon, 30; Paulo Pedroso, 23; Christine Bajoloc, 27; and a 15-year-old boy, all from Cagayan de Oro City, were arrested by the operatives of the City Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office based on the complaint of Globe Telecom.

Gerald Bechayda, Globe Telecom security officer, said the suspects were engaged in fraudulent applications of postpaid lines. Bechayda said the suspects used fake IDs to support their application.

It was found out during credit investigation that the suspects have numerous applications using different names. Globe Telecom discovered the scam thru the picture on the IDs.

“They also use themselves as references so that during credit investigation they would pass,” Bechayda said.

In fact, the suspects managed to pass three separate account credit investigations which led to the issuance of four units of Blackberry Curve 8520 and an iPhone 4S. The items were recovered from the suspects together with a dozen fake IDs in yesterday’s entrapment operations.

Pedroso and Bajoloc were arrested first inside Globe Telecom’s service center at a mall yesterday noon. Barros, who serves as the group’s financer and leader, and the two other cohorts were later arrested in a follow-up operation at around 2 p.m. at the vicinity of Sto. Niño Church. Bajoloc claimed that she was recruited by Lipon to work for Barros.

“Money was very easy with this work that is why I left my family and grabbed the opportunity,” she said.

According to her, their accommodation and food were provided by Barros.

Bajoloc said they arrived in Cebu City last week because most plan application can be approved and released within a week from application.

The police are now preparing charges for illegal use of aliases and estafa against the suspects who are currently detained at the CCPO stockade.

The police also arrested and charged Maria Christina Jupista, a call center agent, last week for using the same modus. –(FREEMAN)