Couple linked to scam in Quezon City yield in Cebu

A couple allegedly involved in a multimillion-peso investment scam in which most of the victims were teachers in Fairview, Quezon City, have given themselves up to the police in Cebu City.

Danilo and Janet Gujilde, both aged 47, are facing charges of large-scale estafa in Quezon City although no warrants have been issued for their arrest in Metro Manila, according to Chief Insp. George Ylanan, chief of the Regional Special Operation Group (RSOG), an operating unit of the Police Regional Office 7’s Regional Intelligence Division.

The couple are accused of duping teachers, parents and government employees in Fairview, Quezon City, of P400 million through an investment scam, Ylanan said.

Their victims claimed they were asked to invest in the Gujildes’ school supplies business in return for a monthly interest of two percent, he added.

Ylanan told the Inquirer on Tuesday that the couple surrendered to the RSOG on Dec. 6 and were placed under arrest based on a warrant issued by Maasin Regional Trial Court Judge Bethany Kapili who is hearing an estafa case filed against them.

Janet, who is also known as Janet Bernades, said they decided to give themselves up because of the numerous death threats they have received. She and her husband, however, said that they were also victims and pointed to Thelma Santos, a resident of Fairview, Quezon City, as the mastermind.

Finger-pointing

According to her, they turned over all the money they got from the investors to Santos who was a hotel and spa materials supplier based in Manila.

The couple also stressed that the amount they got from their supposed victims amounted to only P13 million, not P400 million.