‘Priest’ swindles P15,000 worth of cellphone load

CEBU, Philippines - A man pretending to be a priest is now being hunted by police after he took away P15,000 worth of cellphone load from two businesswomen in Poblacion, Argao yesterday.

One of the victims, Maria Gonzales, 24, a restaurant owner, sought help from the police after she gave P7,300 worth of load to the man, who introduced himself over the phone as the new parish priest.

The other victim, who did not file a police blotter, reportedly lost P8,000 worth of cellphone load to the man.  PO2 Renato Nacaytuna of Argao Police Station told The FREEMAN that apart from the two businesswomen, he and deputy chief SPO4 Esteban Albuera were also victimized by the man.

Nacaytuna said Albuera received a call on Monday from someone who said he was Fr. Alea, the new priest assigned in the town. The man allegedly asked them to check a restaurant where he was about to dine with other priests and instructed them to ensure the security of the area.

Albuera immediately went to check the area and then heard that the “priest” was able to talk with the owner of the restaurant over the phone.

Nacaytuna, who also went to the restaurant, said they overheard the “priest” asking for cellphone load from the owner which sparked their suspicion.

“Naka bantay naman ko sir nga murag nag storya sila sa number sa load card nga nasipyat og hatag, mao to nga nangutana ko nangayo ba og load ang pari, kay perti naman nila nga kiniskisay sa load card,” Nacaytuna added.

This prompted them to check the convent where they met and talked with the real Fr. Socrates Alea, who was surprised that his name was being dragged into the incident.Gonzales also went to the convent.

“Nag abot gyod mi sa simbahan sir kay ang usa ka biktima gusto pod niya maistorya ang pari og siya ba to’ng nangayo og load,” said Nacaytuna, adding that the man they spoke to on the phone sounded like a professional.

“Professional kaayo og tingog sir, mura gyod pod og tinuod,” he said. — (FREEMAN)