Man arrested for swindling would-be travelers

MANILA, Philippines - A 32-year-old man who reportedly duped two Filipino travelers of more than P75,000 was arrested by the police in an entrapment operation yesterday in Ermita, Manila.

Juhari Abinal of Bacood, Sta. Mesa, was the subject of a complaint by Marni de los Santos and Menchu Mullins, who claimed the suspect tricked them into believing that he is the general manager of a travel firm and that he can process their passports and visas for a fee.

The complainants said that despite giving him P75,500, he failed to deliver the passports and visas of their family members, prompting them to seek police assistance.

Chief Inspector Fernando Opelanio, chief of the Manila Police District’s District Police Intelligence Operations Unit (DPIOU), set up an entrapment operation after Abinal sent text messages to the complainants asking for more money to be given at a designated place at a parking lot of a restaurant at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park.

Opelanio gave marked money to De los Santos, who agreed to meet the suspect at the designated place, while DPIOU police officers were deployed around the parking area.

When Abinal arrived in a taxicab, De los Santos handed him the marked money.

When he was arrested, Abinal failed to present documents to prove his alleged position at the travel firm. Police also found out that Abinal is neither connected with the Department of Tourism nor with the Department of Foreign Affairs, two government agencies regulating travel firms.

Opelanio charged Abinal with estafa.