3 charges filed vs woman who posed as CH worker

CEBU, Philippines - The woman who pretended to be an employee of the Cebu City government is facing three criminal charges before the Regional Trial Court.

Niña Ramirez was indicted by Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Gandhi Truya for charges of estafa and for violation of Republic Act 6085, otherwise known as Regulating the Use of Aliases, both filed by Mambaling Police Station.

Ramirez was also sued for usurpation of authority of official function by the Cebu City government, which was represented by its employee from the business permit section, on July 29.

Ramirez was arrested on July 23 for asking money from business owners as supposed penalty for lack of documents for their permits.

During the inquest proceedings before the prosecutor on July 24, the suspect opted not to submit a counter-affidavit to answer the allegations against her and instead manifested to face the charges in court.

Truya recommended P6,000 bail for the temporary liberty of Ramirez on her estafa charges and another P2,000 bail on her charges for using aliases.

Meanwhile, her case on usurpation of authority of official function is yet to be subjected to regular preliminary investigation.

Ramirez, who would wear an identification card similar to that of a city government employee, would go to business establishments and present herself as a business inspector of City Hall.

She would then tell the owners that they lack documents for their business permits and would allegedly threaten that their businesses would be closed if they would not pay the P1,500 penalty.

Police arrested the suspect after receiving a report on her illegal activities and after confirming that she is not connected with the city government.

They seized fake IDs, business permits of three establishments, and a certificate from the Cebu City government and Natural Resources Office from the possession of the suspect.

Ramirez has admitted to the police that she belongs to a group and that she receives P500 for every P1,500 she and her companions can collect.  The suspect is currently detained at the Cebu City Jail.— (FREEMAN)