Police arrest insurance ‘scammers’ in Pasig

A taxi operator and a businessman were arrested for faking the death of a “taxi driver and his passenger”, and consequently claiming insurance amounting to almost half a million pesos.

Eastern Police District director Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula identified the suspects as taxi operator Andres Fernandez, 45, of Las Pinas City, and businessman Sherwin John Amposta, 43, of Bacoor, Cavite.

The two were are arrested in an entrapment operation over the weekend while receiving the P400,000 check at the SCCI office in Robinson’s Equitable Tower, Pasig City.

The arrest of the suspects stemmed from the complaint filed by Sherwin Lo, managing director of SCCI Management and Insurance Corporation.

Pasig City police chief Senior Supt Orlando Yebra Jr., in his report, said the suspects claimed for the insurance benefits of taxi driver Arsenio Gumapac and brother-passenger Marlo Gumapac, who reportedly died in a vehicular accident last April 29 in San Andres, Quezon.

Fernandez, who owned the Toyota Vios taxi, claimed that the Gumapacs died on the spot during the said vehicular accident.

However, upon verification by SCCI security consultant Willy Nuat, he found out that the vehicular accident was non-existent and documents were just falsified. He then requested the assistance of the police, who later set an entrapment operation, said investigator PO2 Eric Goboy.

Fernandez and Amposta are currently detained at the Pasig Police. They were charged for estafa and falsification of public documents.

Chief Insp Roberto Garcia, chief of the investigation unit of the Pasig Police, said they are continuing their investigation to find out if the suspects victimized other companies with their scheme.

All possible victims are encouraged to report to the police station.  /kga