(Surigaonon Sports Updates)
Among them were teachers, cops, OFWs
TACLOBAN CITY – At least 20 victims of an online money-making scheme went to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) provincial office in Naval, Biliran, on Monday, July 8, to file a complaint against the suspect behind the illegal scheme.
One of the complainants, Jean Cabillan, a teacher at a public high school in the town, claimed to have lost more than P270,000 to the suspect, whom she identified only as ‘Anne,’ a former student of hers.
“To be honest, I was encouraged by her promise of a big payback, which is why I was duped into joining her online paluwagan,” Cabillan said in a phone interview.
A paluwagan is a system of alternating borrowing from a fund to which all participants contribute.
Cabillan said she started contributing P30,000 last February with a promise of a P50,000 payback.
Although she did not receive any returns, she continued to participate, making eight more payments until May. In total, she paid the suspect P278,000 through online transactions.
“It came to a point where I had to pawn my jewelry just to give her money,” she added.
Last month, when Cabillan asked her former student to return her money, she received nothing, prompting her to file a complaint for estafa.
“I want to get my money back and see her behind bars. She did not only dupe me but also my sister, mother, and some overseas workers from our town of Cabucgayan,” she said.
Cabillan revealed that several of her co-teachers also fell prey to the online money-lending scheme but remained silent due to concerns about their security and the embarrassment of being deceived.
She is calling on other victims to come forward and join her in filing a complaint against the suspect, who is reportedly in hiding.
This call was echoed by Police Captain Herbert Mendoza, head of the CIDG in Biliran province.
Mendoza said they have received 20 complaints involving a total amount of more than P4 million.
He said they plan to file charges of large-scale estafa against the suspect and her cohorts, considering the substantial amount involved and the number of victims.
“We are calling all the victims of this pyramiding scheme to come out and report this to their nearest police station or our office. Don’t be afraid; we will help you,” he said in an interview.
Mendoza added that they would coordinate with other agencies to ensure the suspect cannot escape.
“We will coordinate with other government agencies to legally prevent her from fleeing. I heard she has a relative living in Australia, where she could possibly flee,” he said.
Mendoza also mentioned seeking help from the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze the accounts of the suspect and her cohorts.
Alarmed by the incident, Mayor Gemma Adobo has called on all barangay leaders and the victims for a meeting to discuss possible actions against the suspect.
The suspect and her cohorts have reportedly been operating their online paluwagan for the past two years.
JOEY A. GABIETA
