Exec indicted over café money

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted the chief executive officer, general manager and chief finance officer of Strictly Politics Café, Inc. for allegedly issuing a check and encashing it without the knowledge and consent of the corporation.

Prosecutor II Ramon Carisma recommended that Alexander Paul “Jay” Bowler Chiongbian be held for trial for 13 counts of qualified theft before the Regional Trial Court.

“The foregoing finding of probable cause pointing to respondent’s commission of the crime of qualified theft stands on the evidence on record. Further, it is buttressed by respondent’s apparent offers for an amicable settlement which would lead a reasonable mind to conclude that respondent himself if had previously admitted to the unlawful taking of corporate funds,” Carisma’s resolution reads.

The complaint against Chiongbian was filed by Politics Café’ owners Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco and wife Ma. Esperanza Christina Frasco.

Frasco is the mayor of Liloan town.

The couple said they and Chiongbian were stockholders of Strictly Politics Café and it was reportedly Chiongbian who managed the day-to-day operations of Politics Café.

Chiongbian was designated as an authorized signatory of the corporation’s Banco de Oro Universal bank corporate account, which was opened solely to accept credit and debit card payments from the customers of Politics Café.

Likewise, Chiongbian was designated as authorized signatory to the corporation’s Unionbank of the Philippines corporate account.

The couple alleged they learned in 2014 that Chiongbian has been using funds from the corporation’s bank accounts to pay the bills of his personal credit card.

Chiongbian denied intent to gain in the transfer of the funds from complainants’ bank account to his personal Unionbank credit card account.

He claimed the transfer were legal since it was supported by proper receipts, vouchers, and other commercial documents in reimbursement of the advances he allegedly made using his personal Unionbank credit card for items used in the operation of Politics Café.

He added the check reimbursements were used for the payment of the salaries and wages of Politics Café.  Chiongbian alleged the complaint was purely to harass him in order to deprive him of his and his father’s rightful share in the corporation.

In his resolution, however, Carisma said Chiongbian’s denial failed to prevail over the positive allegations of the Frascos.

“Respondent (Chiongbian) claims that the transfers of corporate funds from the bank account of the Corporation to his personal credit card account were authorized fund transfers in reimbursement and payment of charges to his personal credit card, which was used to purchase items for Politics Café. These claims, however, are unsubstantiated,” the resolution reads.

Carisma also said Chiongbian failed to present receipt, voucher or any other corporation document that would prove purchase and payments for items for Politics Café that would justify the transfer. — Mylen P. Manto/JMO (FREEMAN)