Swindling suspect in deeper trouble; cops hurt when he tried to flee

MANILA, Philippines — A man tagged for alleged swindling in Navotas City is in deeper trouble after he tried to break free from his two police escorts, who sustained injuries because of his escape attempt on Tuesday.

Mario Tagara was being transported on a motorcycle — sandwiched between the officers who were taking him to the city police headquarters — when he suddenly jumped off and caused the motorbike to lose control.

The escorts — PO1s Winston Agustin and Joseph Serevilla — were thrown off the bike and suffered cuts and bruises, according to an investigator.

Tagara tried to run away as they were passing through Governor Pascual Street, San Jose, around 5 p.m Tuesday, said PO2 Paul Roma, the officer on the case. He was immediately captured by other policemen who were in a patrol car tailing the motorbike.

According to Roma, the 42-year-old Tagara was a sales agent of the JINB Corp. accused of duping a buyer of “Power Saver,” a device peddled as a gadget that would lower electricity costs.

The complainant, Maribelle Aricheta, earlier bought a Power Saver from him at a discounted price of P8,500 — from the original price of P23,000. Before the product could be delivered, she paid an initial P2,500 on Monday.

When Tagara went to her Navotas residence Tuesday to ask for the balance, her 24-year-old son Emerson intervened and asked Tagara to present IDs and the item purchased by his mother. A heated argument ensued when Tagara insisted that he could only deliver it after full payment.

The Arichetas had Tagara taken to the Navotas Police Community Precinct 2, where they failed to settle the issue. The officers at PCP2 then decided to refer the case to headquarters, asking Agustin and Serevilla to take Tagara there.

Still in detention Wednesday, Tagara faced complaints not just for swindling and but also for disobedience to persons in authority, Roma said.

A check on JIBN Corp., whose office is located at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and Edsa in Munoz, Quezon City, showed that it was not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the investigator added.  SFM