NBI nabs 2 in ‘Yolanda’ donation scam

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested two men for allegedly duping a Spanish foundation and pocketing the funds it had donated for “Yolanda” victims.

Special Agent Aldrin Mercader of the NBI’s Anti Fraud Division identified them as civil engineer Desiderio Estinozo and his alleged accomplice, Nestor Lehetemas.

Mercader said the two were arrested at Estinozo’s office in Malate on Monday. They posted bail at P40,000 each on Wednesday in connection with an estafa case filed against them in Davao City in 2013.

They are accused of using the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA) to dupe Fundacion InteRed into donating money for victims of the 2013 Superthypoon “Yolanda.”

They were able to do this by changing a letter of PhilDHRRA’s e-mail address, according to Mercader.

The suspects asked for a P6-million donation supposedly for rehabilitation projects in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

They were supposed to receive the money in tranches through a bank account under the name of Estinozo’s construction firm.

After transferring an initial P1 million, the foundation e-mailed PhilDHRAA and found out about the scam. —AIE BALAGTAS SEE