Fotog sues friend for carnapping

CEBU, Philippines —  A Cebu events photographer has filed a carnapping case against his friend who took the vehicle that was already sold to him.

Neil June Euldan has filed the complaint before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on January 4, 2021 against Diogenes Ababa Edvardsen, the daughter of Cantao-an, Naga City Barangay Captain Christina Ababa.

Euldan said he bought the vehicle from Edvardsen for P200,000 on June 4 last year and continued paying the amortization.

He said he is confident that the case will prosper citing that he had documents as proof of ownership of the pick-up truck including the memorandum of agreement, deed of sale, and even receipts of payment.

He said he paid a monthly amortization of P24,665 directly to Edvardsen starting June to October 2020 but after the said incident, he withdrew the payment in the month of October.

Euldan narrated that in the afternoon of October 13, 2020, Edvardsen and her cohorts started tailing him when he left from his studio in Mandaue City and was heading to a gasoline station in the North Reclamation Area.

While paying his gasoline bill, Edvardsen and her cohorts onboard three four-wheeled vehicles and a motorcycle allegedly harassed and humiliated him.

Edvardsen allegedly shouted asking him to give back the vehicle while a lot of people were watching.

Two of her cohorts who identified themselves as policemen also approached him and asked him to get out of the vehicle.

Euldan asked the alleged policemen to show identification but were not able to produce any.

He claimed that one of Edvardsen cohorts took a photo or video during the incident and posted it on social media in which he said an additional humiliation as they gave a wrong impression that he may have stolen the vehicle.

Taken away

Worried for his safety, he asked Edvardsen and his cohorts to settle it in Mabolo Police Station, the nearest police station in the area.

However, they were referred to the police station in the City of Naga since they do not have the jurisdiction over the issue considering that the respondent is a resident of Naga City.

Since Edvardsen kept insisting that he should give back the vehicle, Euldan said he was almost convinced provided that the former will return all the money he paid as down payment, amortization, and all the expenses he incurred to improve the car.

However, Edvardsen could not give the money since she claimed she only had around P150,000 cash and opted to return the money through a cheque.

Euldan disapproved her terms considering that he was already lied to.

Around 2 a.m. on October 14, 2020 after several hours the Naga City police tried to reach an amicable settlement, Edvardsen together with her cohorts including her parents allegedly walked out and took the subject vehicle.

Euldan believed that they had a spare key since the original key and the manuals were still with the respondent.

He disclosed that he received a demand letter on October 10, 2020, three days prior to the incident, asking him to return the vehicle within 10 days.

Euldan said he was about to answer the letter that time.

"Naa gyud sa among chat nga iyahang bawion ang sakyanan kay tungod naa kunoy mopalit nga lain nga mas higher ang amount. Iyaha kong hadlokon nga ambi nalang nang sakyanan kay naay buyer nga mas taas pa ang amount," said Euldan.

After the incident, Euldan said the respondent did not communicate to him.

Euldan prompted to come out in the open in order for the public to be aware that the vehicle that was taken by Edvardsen was already sold to him.

"Dili intawn ko magyaga-yaga kay I'm into big events, gisaligan ko sa mga dagkong personalities like politicians, at the same time, former councilor ko, dili ko magyaga-yaga sa akong ngalan," he said.

First meeting

Euldan said he first met the respondent when her child participated in the personality development class where he was the official photographer. After that, she allegedly started reaching out to him by initiating conversations.

The respondent allegedly offered to sell the vehicle to him on the month of May 2020 for the reason that she would migrate to other country.

Euldan said he will also file charges of cyber-libel against those individuals who posted the video on social media and fabricated the incident.

"We are observing their shared posts and comments on their Facebook accounts regarding this matter and if circumstances would warrant, we will file necessary criminal charges against them," he said.

"This will also merit the supremacy of our laws such as anti-cybercrime. If fighting our rights on behalf of other victims of cyber-bully means educating everyone how to be responsible in using online platforms, we would definitely keep our time for this since many are unaware the possible accountability after violating the said law," Euldan added.—  GMR (FREEMAN)