Woman faces raps for defrauding cop's widow

MANILA, Philippines - A woman is facing charges before the Caloocan City Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly defrauding the widow of a policeman of more than P30,000 for the past three years.

Chief Inspector Ruben Lacuesta, Northern-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group commander, said Jocelyn Febiar, 44, of Antipolo City, was caught receiving P20,000 in marked money from Gloria Calmona, 64, of Caloocan City.

“The suspect is facing estafa charges before the Caloocan prosecutor’s office,” he said. “She is still detained for failure to settle her P40,000 bail.”

Febiar’s other victims can file additional charges against her, Lacuesta said.

Febiar told police she is an agent of the Kooperatiba ng mga Bayani, a financial cooperative of retired police officers and military personnel in Quezon City.

Calmona – whose husband, Senior Police Officer 2 Quirino, died in 2006 – sought Lacuesta’s help after Febiar kept demanding money to process her husband’s other death benefits but has yet to deliver results.

A few months after Calmona’s husband died, the victim said Febiar offered to assist her in claiming his remaining benefits from the Philippine National Police. Febiar allegedly asked for an initial P30,000 but then demanded P5,000 each time she visited Calmona over the past three years.

However, Calmona’s relatives checked with the PNP Finance Service last Aug. 14 and found that her pension benefits had already been terminated on Aug. 21 last year. – Pete Laude