MANILA, Philippines - Authorities on Thursday nabbed an official of the Bureau of Customs in Pasay City for duping a businesswoman P1.6 million of investment on used clothes, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group ((CIDG) said.
CIDG chief Director Benjamin Magalong said operatives arrested Ethel Bernas, a customs officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, during an entrapment after receiving P150,000 from businesswoman Elsa Balse.
Magalong said Bernas sweet-talked Balse into financing three containers of used clothes or “ukay-ukay” in the amount P400,000 per container.
The victim invested more than P1.6 million but no container was ever released by the suspect. She filed a complaint after Bernas demanded for an additional P155,000 from her, Magalong said.
The warrant was issued by Judge Ronald Cardena of Pasay City Regional Trial Branch 157 in April 2000.