ILOILO – Police arrested three persons falsely claiming to be staff members of Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Carol Espinosa-Diaz of the 5th District.
They were Warde Canillo, 25, of Barangay Concepcion, Iloilo City; and Jimmilyn Castillo, 35; and Jee-an Ortiz, 40, of Barangay Tabuan, Estancia town.
They were taken to the Estancia police station.
According to Police Major Aldren Lamera, municipal police chief, the three were entrapped in Barangay Villa Pani-an, Estancia at around 4:30 p.m. on April 9.
Canillo reportedly went to some barangays, introduced himself as the chief of staff of Espinosa-Diaz, and peddled a supposed “pabahay program” which those interested could avail themselves of for P30,000.
His two female companions served as his “collectors.”
They asked from each interested applicant a down payment of P4,500 to P5,000 plus P30 for the documentary stamp.
“They were brazen. They coordinated with village chiefs to promote a non-existent program,” Lamera said. “But one barangay captain checked with the office of Diaz and found out the truth.”
Diaz coordinated with Lamera and the local government unit of Estancia for an entrapment.
Canillo personally received the P4,500 entrapment money in the presence of Castillo and Ortiz.
Police recovered the amount plus application forms, list of beneficiaries, bank checks, and passbooks from the suspects.
They will be charged with syndicated estafa.
Diaz said Canillo was neither her chief of staff nor her employee; her chief of staff was Atty. Cecil Maquirang.
The Provincial Board member also denied having a “pabahay program”.
Diaz is the chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s committee on social welfare, housing, senior citizens and person with disability.
She said she would file charges against the three suspects for using her name in a scam./PN
