More swindling victims come out

MANILA, Philippines - More victims of swindling activities similar to the multimillion-peso jewelry scam involving members of high society trooped to the Senate yesterday in support of Sen. Loren Legarda’s campaign to protect victims of these types of scams.

One of them is Violeta Alipio, single, who claims to be one of 15 people duped by the wife of television host Ariel Manalo, better known as “Jose” and the sidekick of veteran comedian Vic Sotto in the program “Eat Bulaga.”

“I am not the only victim. We believed her because she has been saying that she would not embarrass her husband who works as one of the hosts of Eat Bulaga,” Violeta said, referring to Jose’s wife Analyn.

Violeta said Analyn has many other victims.

“Some were duped for jewelry which she pawned, and properties which she later registered under her name,” Alipio said in an interview at the Senate gallery.  

“Some P60-million worth of properties and jewelry are involved here,” she said.

Analyn’s alleged victims sat side by side with members of high society who have filed syndicated estafa charges against Ma. Elena So Guisande, chief of staff of philanthropist and socialite Baby Arenas.

Their presence at the Senate yesterday was in support of Legarda’s privilege speech on the issue.

Legarda hit the modus operandi of people like Guisande who prey on unsuspecting members of the community.

Legarda noted that Guisande, assisted by her cohorts, pawns trays of jewelry in exchange for quick cash at allegedly conspiring pawnshops which do not even bother to verify or establish the ownership of these pieces of jewelry.

“There is a need to take a closer look into the operations of the pawnshop business. Moreover, it is not only these pawnshops which would be prevented from committing a violation of the law but those individuals as well who buy, at ridiculously low prices, these pieces of jewelry fraudulently acquired by potential Marilen Guisandes in our society,” Legarda said.

The senator was furious upon learning that Guisande chose to “hole herself in the Makati Medical Center and Chinese General Hospital to evade being arrested or taken for questioning.”

In her affidavit filed before the Quezon City Prosecutors’ Office, Violeta said she first met Analyn sometime in June last year. 

Analyn was also supposedly in the jewelry business and was looking for a supplier.

Violeta recalled that Analyn gained her trust after she claimed that she knows a lot of celebrities and other wealthy and influential persons who are potential buyers.

“Accordingly I agreed to supply Mrs. Manalo with jewelry, which eventually amounted to P2,026,253.75,” she said. 

As payment, Analyn issued postdated checks upon delivery of the jewelry, consisting of diamonds and South Sea pearls.

To date, four of Analyn’s checks totaling to P1.911 million have not been honored due to closed accounts.

“Upon the dishonor of said checks, I immediately made oral demands upon Mrs. Manalo and company for payment but these fell on deaf ears,” Violeta said, prompting her to file charges for estafa and violation of Batasang Pambansa 22 against Analyn.

Alipio said she learned after the checks started bouncing that Analyn would pawn the jewelry rather than sell them at their right market prices.

In another interview, Purificacion Nayve said Analyn duped her after they executed a mortgage agreement for a residential building which she (Purificacion) owns at Greenland Subdivision in Cainta, Rizal.

Purificacion said she was surprised to learn that Analyn was able to pawn their three-story house to Sterling Bank for P8 million even though they had not executed a deed of sale.

The actual amount of the house was estimated at P6.5 million.

Purificacion told reporters that she pawned the house for a lesser amount because she needed the money. But when she encashed Analyn’s payment, Purificacion said only a check worth P600,000 was good while the other checks either had insufficient funds or  were declared closed accounts.

Legarda said she was “appalled” at the notion that these shady practices go scot-free. 

“How can these unscrupulous persons perpetuate these stunts with impunity? How could they possess the ability to do all of these fraudulent and deceitful business practices? They must be made to stop,” she said.

At the plenary, Legarda also cited the need to amend Presidential Decree 114, regulating the establishment and operation of pawnshops, and to formulate a measure that will protect investors in related businesses.

“More than ever, we need cash and investments to flow into our domestic industries and businesses to help tide over our economy during these most trying times,” she said.  

Legarda’s privilege speech was referred to the Senate committees on banks, and trade and commerce.