2 nabbed for posing as LTFRB employees in ‘selling’ vehicle franchises

UV Express taxis. File photo by RUDY ESPERAS

MANILA, Philippines — Two women were arrested in an entrapment operation in Quezon City for allegedly promising but failing to deliver UV Express franchises in exchange for P170,000.

Ma. Lourdes Navidad, 57, and Lita Celespara, 37, of Barangay (village) Pinyahan, were collared on Tuesday for allegedly posing as Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board employees offering franchises.

Their victim, a lady dentist, claimed that the women promised to give her a UV Express franchise within two months but failed to do so, even asking for more money to speed it up.

The suspects underwent inquest proceedings before the Quezon City prosecutors office for estafa, which recommended a P22,000 bail for their provisional liberty.

Superintendent Limuel Obon, Kamuning police station commander, said Ma. Leonora Andaya-Zoleta, 42, a dentist, came forward to lodge a complaint.

The complainant initially paid P100,000 last July 15 to the suspects, who promised to have her franchise released after two months.

Two months later on September 13, she met with the women again, who promised to have the copy of petition for dropping and substitution of unit for the franchise sent to Zoleta’s email account.

The dentist, however, did not receive anything when she checked her email account and told the women about it.

The suspects, however, allegedly asked for P70,000 more for its early release, making the complainant suspicious.

Police operatives then set up an entrapment operation at a restaurant along Magalang Street in Barangay Pinyahan on Tuesday morning, during which the suspects were arrested.

Obon said a check with the LTFRB also showed that the franchise that the suspects were offering had been already sold.

The women were also not found in the LTFRB’s roster of employees.