To ask for cellphone load, swindlers pretend to be Capitol officials

CEBU, Philippines - Police discovered a new group of swindlers victimizing beach resorts by using the names of Cebu Provincial Board members and police officials.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador already directed all chiefs of police in the Cebu province to monitor their areas of responsibility and coordinate with the resort owners.

The culprits had used the names of Board Members Joven Mondigo, Jude Thaddeus Sybico and Julian Daan.

A resort in San Remigio was victimized by a caller who claimed he was Mondigo while a resort in Danao City was victimized by a caller claiming he was Sybico.

The resorts lost some P6,000 worth of cellphone load to the swindlers.

Comendador said the swindlers called the resort using names of prominent people saying they wanted to book a room. 

After a few minutes of conversation the caller then asked for a cellular phone load because he needed to call somebody.

The caller would promise to pay the amount together with the room bill after their supposed stay at the resort.

Comendador added that there was an instance when the caller posed as a policeman. A “back-up policeman” would even visit the resort ahead of the “official” to secure the area. 

The recent victim was PB Member Julian Daan. His name was used by the swindler who asked for cellular phone load from personnel of a resort in Minglanilla last May 30.

The man claimed he has three foreigner friends who will be staying in the resort in Minglanilla and called the Minglanilla Police Station.

Thinking it was Daan, PO1 Artellano Cabaluna went to the resort and as instructed by the caller, borrowed P3,000 from the receptionist which will be reimbursed upon Daan’s arrival.

The identity of the caller is still unknown.

Hans Hauri, president of the Hotels, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC), told The FREEMAN he did not receive any complaint regarding the incident but assured to act on the matter. — (FREEMAN)