Business partners arrest man for ‘pocketing’ their money

CEBU, Philippines - A man is now behind bars after his business partners arrested him in Barangay Kamputhaw for allegedly taking their P7 million.

The three business partners did a citizen’s arrest on 23-year-old Niel Niño Huele of Aklan, Iloilo over what he allegedly did.

Theft and Robbery Section (TRS) Chief William Alicaba of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said is accused of taking the money of Marve Prestine Degollacion, 25; Charlie Bryan Go, 23; and Deborah Tiu Matiao, 30.

Initial investigation showed that Degollacion, owner of Prestine Fuel Distributor, complained against Huele for misappropriating her P4.1 million, which was supposed to be remitted to Go.

Go, on the other hand, complained Huele allegedly managed to persuade Southern Philippines Development Mining Corp. to deposit P1.3 million in his (Huele) bank account.

Matiao, on other hand, told the police Huele failed to remit her P1.5 million.

In an interview, Alicaba said that Degollacion, Go, and Matiao have entrusted Huela the purchase of fuel from an oil depot in Lapu-Lapu City.

The four, who met during their college days, are engaged in the sale and distribution of fuel in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

The complainants, however, discovered that Huele misappropriated their money since no fuel was delivered to their company.

“Wala sila magtuo nga sa kadugay nila sa negosyo, magbinuang ni si (They have been together in their business for a long time already they never expected that it would be done to them by) Huele,” Alicaba said.

The victims set a meeting with Huele at a restaurant in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City past 8 p.m. last Thursday to sort things out.  It was when they restrained Huele and had him arrested.

Alicaba said the complainants first sought help from the Provincial Intelligence Branch, which forwarded the matter to CCPO’s TRS.

Reporters tried to get Huele’ side but he refused to issue any statement.

“I won’t make any comment,” he said.

The police are now preparing a large-scale estafa  complaint  against the suspect.— /RHM (FREEMAN)