More victims of P6-million scam surface; Mandaue cops to join probe

The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office yesterday continued to receive complaints from victims who said they were swindled by Aljohn Abrenica, one of the suspects in a P6 million scam involving unfunded checks.

After a photo of Abrenica and his alleged cohort Anabelle Booc Igot appeared in Cebu Daily News front page, the paper also got a call from a lawyer who said her client recognized Abrenica as the one who disappeared after paying for over P200,000 in dry goods with a bum check.

Another new complainant, a coffee vending machine owner named Mark Loreto of Liloan town, northern Cebu, told police that Abrenica had ordered five coffee vending machines worth P77,840 by phone.

Loreto said he only learned about Abrenica after reading about his case in the newspaper.

Entrepreneur, Ronelo Tura of Cordova town, said a woman who used the name Bea Tan Rama ordered P44,000 worth of fresh eggs from him.

He said he tried to collect payment from her at a store in barangay Bangkal, Lapu-Lapu City four times only to be told that she disappeared.

Jonathan Pena, a collector for Sumiso Motors based in barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City, said another suspect, Faith Booc Baya, issued checks to his firm for P32,000 as down payment for a motorcycle worth P128,000.

He said he went to the same address in barangay Bangkal, only to be told that Baya had already left with some companions.

Baya earlier submitted all requirements to their office.

The new cases brings the numer of businesses hit by the swindler’s circle to 24.

Lapu-Lapu police said they believe a group of three men and three women transacted various bulk purchases of computers, tires, construction materials, and processed meat, among other items by issuing checks on a Friday or Saturday just before the May 13 election.

The long weekend prevented stores from immediately checking the banks or noticing anything amiss.

The bank accounts were all closed by the time they store representatives checked.

Deliveries were made to Abrencia’s rented house in Casa Nuestra Subdivision in Lapu-Lapu City but the goods and all occupants had vanished by May 11.

Insp. Jose Nilo Abello, chief of the Theft and Robbery Section (TRS) of the Lapu-Lapu City police, said they have alerted all ports to be on the lookout for the suspects and their stolen merchandise.

Mandaue City police said they will help their counterparts in Lapu-Lapu City investigate the scam.

Chief Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes of the Mandaue Investigation and Detection Management Branch (IDMB) said they will visit establishments that were victimized.

He said the same modus operandi, using post-dated checks, was prevalent in the 1990s.

He said shops should always verify post-dated checks and the background of new clients.

The victims in the recent wave of swindling cases were establishments in cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cebu, Talisay and Minglanilla town./Correspondent Norman Mendoza and Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos