8 con men arrested, charged in Bacolod

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Eight men who reportedly victimized at least 2,000 Negrenses, mostly teachers, were arrested Saturday and were charged with large-scale estafa, police said yesterday.

Superintendent Santiago Rapiz, head of the Special Operations Task Group of the city police, said they filed charges of illegal possession and use of false treasury or bank notes and other instruments of credit against the eight, who are reportedly members of Voice of Global Solutions on Poverty Association Inc. (VGSPAI), before the city prosecutor’s office last Monday.

Rapiz said charges were filed against Altres de Dios, 33, who claims to be the president and chief executive officer of VGSPAI, and a resident of Subic, Zambales; Eustaquio Mejo Jr., 38, vice president for treasury; and their members Gregorio Deslate Jr., 61; Lina Deslate, 58; Jesus Montales, 61; Lucero Dolores, 61; and Carmela Umadhay, 42; and Vicenta Garcia, 59.

The victims complained that they were promised instant cash returns for investments made to the group.