Woman gets 15 years jail term for estafa

CEBU, Philippines - A woman engaged in the business of facilitating sale and transfer of taxi franchises was sentenced to suffer a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment after the Regional Trial Court found her guilty of estafa.

RTC Judge Soliver Peras meted Liza Bobo the penalty of imprisonment from four years to 15 years. Bobo was also ordered to pay P95,000 the complainant, Christopher Ramos.

"This court finds that all the elements of the crime of estafa are present. It must be observed that the accused presented herself to the private complainant as a person possessing a business and capacity to engage in selling and transferring franchise of a taxi unit," the decision read.

 Ramos alleged that Bobo offered to facilitate the sale and transfer of the franchise of a taxi unit. She also claimed to have a taxi franchise available for sale and can be transferred under the name of the buyer within two months for P95,000.

Ramos said he paid the accused P95,000 hoping that the franchise under his name will be delivered within two months as promised. Ramos said he waited for the franchise to be transferred but the accused failed.

 Bobo said she was able to fulfill her promise and delivered the franchise to Ramos, including the application for transfer, deed of sale, and the plate number. But, Ramos denied receiving anything.

The court ruled in favor of the complainant after the accused admitted that she does not have a business permit. The court said it was clear from the facts presented that Bobo misrepresented herself.

Bobo explained she does not have a registered business in the Department of Trade and Industries and the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the sale of taxi franchise and no business permit in selling taxi franchise since there was no permit allowed.

 According to her, she had been into the business of facilitating franchise sale and transfer since 2005. (FREEMAN)