Hotel guests charged for failure to pay bills

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has charged four hotel guests before the court over non-payment of the hotel’s services.

Drexlle Caldoza, Ronilyn Vasey, Beverly Saberon, and Jhon Carlo Real are charged with estafa with a recommended bail of P43,000 each.

The four accused were arrested on March 18, this year at about 4 p.m. for failure to pay for their accommodation, food and other services amounting to P148,739.35 to the damage and prejudice of the hotel.

Hotel manager Nora Sia, in her sworn- statement, alleged on February 28, 2019, two customers arrived to check in at the hotel registered under the name of Wilford Leigh with a receipt presented from Agoda booking online reservation.

They had an advanced payment for the room amounting to P22,177.69. The daily rent of the room is P5,544.40.

On March 17, 2019, her staff received an email from Agoda booking online reservation about the fraudulent reservation. It said that the actual card holder under the name of Daryl Lou did not authorize the transaction.

The following day, Sia said they called the guests of room 207 and 209 and informed them to pay their rent amounting P148,739.35 including room services.

Because they failed to pay and per information of the Agoda booking, she requested for police assistance leading to the arrest of Caldoza, 22, a native of Agusan del Sur; Vasey, 22, of Lapu-lapu City; Saberon, 19, of Mandaue City; and Real, 22, of Agusan del Sur.

In an inquest proceeding, the four accused opted not to file their respective counter-affidavits to answer the allegation filed against them. Instead, they manifested to face the charges in court. (FREEMAN)