Gil faces estafa raps

Self-proclaimed billionaire Eddie Gil, who had been disqualified from running for president, is now in deeper trouble after several people filed charges of estafa against him yesterday before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Most of the complainants were local candidates who relied on Gil’s promise to provide them with campaign funds while one was a caterer during his birthday celebration at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City last Feb. 7.

In their complaint, the group said Gil was an "international swindler" and did not really have the money he claimed to have.

"He said he could pay for the country’s debts, when he could not even settle his obligations to us," said Leo Cadion, who ran for councilor in Pasay City and lost.

Cadion said all 700 candidates nationwide who ran under Gil’s Isang Bansa Isang Diwa (IBID) party now want to sue him for moral damages.

"He wasted our time and effort. We went hungry during those times he asked us to see him and get the budget for us. He ruined our lives. He made us believe in his lies," he added.

The other complainants were Pacifico Ortega, who ran for councilor in Mandaluyong City; mayoral candidates Ferdinand Quilitano of Taguig, Rosemarie Alejaga of Pasay City and Nicasio Atenion of Cotabato City; and Manuel Ibañez, IBID chairman in Cavite.

The caterer, who identified herself as Cynthia Perez, filed a complaint against Gil and IBID officials Elizabeth Samson and Jay de Jesus for failing to pay her P255,570 for her catering services during Gil’s birthday celebration.

"They just kept on promising they would pay. But we had been waiting for so long now and they even wanted us to give them a discount," she said.

Perez said she only received P60,000 as downpayment from Gil’s group.

"We appeal to them to pay us because we also just borrowed our capital. We need to pay our debts and expenses too," she said, adding that Gil issued her a check for P500,000, which later bounced.

Cadion said they had been trying to talk to Gil, De Jesus and another IBID official, Manuel Santos.

"We were surprised with (Gil’s) recent reactions. He would even cry and say he was a man of honor and would not run away from his debts," he said.

Cadion claimed to have spent up to P800,000 in his candidacy, most of which were only lent to him based on funds Gil promised to provide.

"We believed him and now where did that leave us? They are just laughing at us here at the DOJ," he said.