LTFRB employee faces estafa raps

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office charged in court an employee of the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for estafa by means of false pretenses.

Prosecutor Aurora Peñaflor said there is sufficient evidence to hold Maria Liza Bobo for trial. Bobo, a resident of Compostela town, allegedly received money from a supposed business partner in exchange for a taxi franchise, and a vehicle that allegedly never materialized. 

Peñaflor recommended P60,000 bail for Bobo’s temporary liberty.

The complainant, Agostino Cerchiara, a resident of Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, said he came to know Bobo from a third party. He reportedly met Bobo in September 2010 in a business meeting when his friend, Wilma Schatt, invited him to finance a taxi business.

Cerchiara said Bobo assured him and Schatt that she can get them a taxi franchise the soonest possible time and assured them further not to worry, as she has total control.

Cerchiara said he gave Bobo P550,000 in cash to process the necessary requirements for the franchise. However, when they followed up on the franchise later, Bobo allegedly came up with many excuses on the delay in the process.

“Among those excuses that she proffered is that we still do not have the automobile/vehicle which is to be used as the taxi unit,” he said.

Cerchiara said he also gave P215,000 to purchase a vehicle that would be converted into a taxi unit.

“I was therefore compelled to hand her P215,000 for the purchase of the said automobile believing in her assertions that it will fast-track the processing of the franchise and so that we can start already our business operations,” he said.

Still, Bobo allegedly failed to meet her end of the bargain, both on the taxi franchise and vehicle for taxi. 

He then asked Bobo to return the money he had given her for which Bobo issued two checks. However, the checks allegedly bounced.

“Bobo issued a check to me dated December 16 amounting to P150,000 and in December 17, 2010 another check was issued in the amount of P65,000. I immediately deposited the checks but it was returned to me for insufficient funds,” Cerchiara said.

He then contacted Bobo but the latter allegedly could no longer be reached.  (FREEMAN)