“Swindler” arrested

CEBU, Philippines - A man was arrested for allegedly duping a woman who was applying for a job at the Phenphil Sports Complex in barangay Cotcot, Liloan town last May 11. 

Basil Baylosis, 25, single, and a resident of barangay Cotcot town was arrested in an entrapment carried out by the police with the help of victim Marie Grace Pabra.

On that day, Pabra had just applied for a job and as she arrived home, she received a text message from someone who identified himself as a representative of the firm she was interested to work for, and that she was hired.

The man asked for P860 for her medical expenses and P300 for the processing fee and was instructed to send the money through RD Pawnshop. 

After sending the money, she was told to go to High Precision in Mandaue City and look for a certain Jessa.

She went there as instructed and found out no one named Jessa worked in that firm.

When Pabra told the man about her failure to meet the woman, she was told to go to High Precision in Fuente Osmeña in Cebu City where she would meet Jessa.

Pabra went as told and when she discovered no one named Jessa worked there, she realized she was conned.

Last Monday the man again sent a text message to Pabra asking for more money for the processing of her documents.

She played along, telling the man to meet her at a pizza parlor in barangay Cabangcalan.

As the man received the money, Pabra’s live-in partner arrested him and called the police.

When frisked by the police, the man, later to be identified as Baylosis, yielded a stick of marijuana. 

Baylosis, who faces swindling and possession of marijuana charges, is detained at the Casuntingan police station.  (FREEMAN)