Resort drops case vs “beautiful girl”

CEBU, Philippines - The beach resort in Asturias town to which the girl tagged as “Cebu’s beautiful shoplifter” owed money has dropped the case against the minor after the bill was settled.

Myrna Beltran, owner of Cabo Resort, said they decided to drop the estafa case through an affidavit of desistance. She confirmed that her assistant at the resort had received the payment for the bill.

Asked who paid on the girl’s behalf, Beltran said “that’s confidential. I don’t care if taga-asa siya, taga-diin, basta naa nay gihatag payment. Everything is settled and we withdrew (the case) already.”

Last week, the Asturias police filed the case against the girl after she failed to pay P15,000 for her three-day stay at the resort.

The girl’s lawyer, Rene Abcede, told The FREEMAN they have not received a copy of the affidavit of desistance as of yesterday.

He, however, said that the affidavit would not mean the case will be dismissed automatically because the affidavit would have to be verified and approved by the court. The case is pending before the Regional Trial Court in Toledo City.

“But if wala gyoy witness unya ang complainant is no longer interested (in prosecuting the case), it will lead to the death of the criminal case,” he said.

Apart from Beltran, an owner of a salon in Cebu City has also filed a case against the girl for the latter’s failure to pay P2,000 worth of salon services.

The girl was also tagged in a shoplifting incident in a store in Mandaue City in August.

The girl is currently under the custody of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office  for a “diversion” program.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, co-chairperson of the Provincial Council for Women and Children and the Provincial Women’s Commission, said PWC is considering of transferring her to a facility in the girl’s hometown in Southern Leyte.

“Moari man daw to ilang social worker… Kinahanglan siguraduhon naay diversion program didto pod,” Magpale told reporters.

The minor underwent psychological evaluation on Monday but the result is yet to be released. — /JMO (FREEMAN)