16 coop officials charged with estafa

MANILA, Philippines - Sixteen officials of the MIA Transport Service Cooperative (MIATSC) were charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) with “estafa through misappropriation” for allegedly refusing to remit P3 million in dividends, patronage funds and other benefits to several of the coop’s members.

MIATSC general manager Gerardo Reglos and MIATSC officials Romeo Carcillar, Ernesto Cortez, Eulogio Tayco, Melchor Ferrer, Renato Lumapas, Reynaldo Acosta, Romeo Besillas, Felix Lansang, Amadeo Palacio, Ernesto Feliciano, Raul Valenzona, Rodolfo Gatdula, Mario Pasiliao, Rey Ringor and Artemio Aduan were named in the complaint.

Complainants Profemio Teope, Oscar Cruz, Alejandrino Bunoan, Rebecca Rufo, and 12 others accused the respondents of misappropriating these benefits during their incumbency.

“The concern now is the respondents’ unexplained refusal to remit to the complainants their dividends and patronage refunds and other benefits (sacks of rice) and their blatant misappropriation and conversion of the same – done with conspiracy with each other,” said the 14-page complaint affidavit.

The complainants said MIATSC has been declaring dividends and patronage refund for several years since 2001, based on its financial statements.

The complainants sent the respondents, through Reglos, several demand letters for the release of dividends and patronage refund, as well as other benefits.

The respondents said the complainants are no longer members, but the complainants said their membership has never been terminated.