2 arrested for swindling computer store

MANILA, Philippines - Two men were arrested in an entrapment operation at a PC Works branch along E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City yesterday afternoon when they allegedly tried to steal laptops from the branch using fake purchase order slips.

Senior Superintendent Ronald Estilles, chief of the Anti-Organized Crime Group of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said Emmanuel Salvador, 28, and his driver, Pedro Noveriza, had already stolen P1.2 million worth of laptops from other PC Works branches.

Estilles told The STAR that Noveriza has a standing warrant of arrest for frustrated murder pending before the Parañaque City regional trial court. The crime was committed in 2007.

He said the modus operandi of the suspects was to produce a fake purchase order (PO) of the Inigma store, which has an open credit line with PC Works.

With the PO, Estilles said the suspects were able to get 12 laptops from PC Works in three different transactions. When PC Works officials, led by Ryan Pimentel, checked with Inigma, they denied taking any laptop or computers, prompting Pimentel to seek police assistance.

Estilles said Salvador and Noveriza were nabbed while about to do their fourth transaction. Police also seized the suspects’ blue Toyota Corolla (PNB-200). Police said the two men will be charged with estafa.