Driver pawns employer's car to pay gambling debts

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City police arrested Monday a man who seeks work as a family driver and later pawns his boss’ car to pay off gambling debts.

Makati City police acting chief Superintendent Jaime Santos said what makes James Felipe unique is that he would later tell his boss he had been kidnapped and his captors are demanding that the car be ransomed.

“He is into gambling. He would then pawn his bosses’ cars to pay off his debts. When it is now time to pay up, he would call up his boss and inform his bosses that he was abducted and that the cars are being held for ransom,” said Santos.

Santos said Felipe’s operation was only bared after businesswoman Lina Cancio, 50, of San Antonio Village, sought police assistance.

Cancio told police that Felipe failed to return a brand new Toyota Vios with conduction sticker TN1755 to her house last June 8. She said her driver called her up and told her he had been taken by a group of men and that the car is being held in exchange for P150,000.

Cancio, sensing something amiss, sought police help. Santos said a police team was dispatched to arrest Felipe in an entrapment. 

Police later learned that Felipe, who had only worked as Cancio’s driver for six months, pawned the car for P90,000 to sustain his gambling habit.

Also arrested with Felipe during the sting operation were Sharon Rose Agustin and Glerem Rico.

Santos said he expects more complainants to press charges against Felipe, whom he alleged had been duping previous employers to finance his gambling habit.

Felipe is detained at the Makati City police station as estafa charges are being readied against him.