CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The Office of the City Prosecutor filed estafa charges on Friday against two men who passed themselves off as staff members of People’s Television 4 (PTV-4) at the Municipal Trial Court in this city.
Chief Insp. Eugene Rebadomia, chief of the police’s Provincial Criminal Investigation and Detection Team identified the suspects as Milandro Barredo Reyes, alias Lhander Reyes, 30, of Block 2, Lot 42, Lapids Ville, Longos, Malolos City; and Patrick Cortez, 24, of 1738 Cambambangan Street, San Vicente, Apalit, Pampanga.
In the inquest resolution signed by Prosecutor Benedict Pichay III, he explained that the charge of Usurpation of Authority or Official Function of Article 177 of Revised Penal Code (RPC) in relation to Republic Act (RA) 7306, as amended by RA 10390, could be viewed as means for respondents to execute their intention to swindle.
During the inquest proceedings, the suspects were assisted by a lawyer, but did not execute a waiver of Article 125 of the RPC and agreed that the case be submitted for resolution.
The case stemmed from the charges of usurpation of authority or official function and swindling conducted at the Information Office of the Provincial Capitol in this city that resulted in the arrest of the suspects after they allegedly conspired in receiving marked money, composed of four pieces of P500 bills, incorporated in “boodle” money to make it appear to be worth P50,000, which the suspects were asking from the Office of Gov. Lilia Pineda through Joel P. Mapiles, officer in charge of the Information Office. The case summary states that after receiving the envelope containing the marked money, Reyes immediately put it down when he noticed the presence of boodle money.
On October 16 the suspects went to the PIO and told Mapiles that Pineda was chosen by their group as awardee of PTV-4 Lingkod Bayan Award.
However, the suspects were soliciting P50,000 from the Office of the Governor through the PIO using the name of PTV-4 in giving the award.
Reportedly, on October 20, the suspects returned to the PIO office and enticed the latter to convince Pineda to make a movie based on her life story.
Reyes allegedly claimed that he is a segment producer of PTV-4 Lingkod Bayan. He added that if Pineda agrees, she has to pay P5 million for the movie and the suspect will give 10 percent of the said amount to Mapiles as commission. Reyes allegedly told Mapiles that, if the governor will choose among Marian Rivera, Lovi Poe or Jennelyn Mercado, she has to add additional payment of P3 million and 10 percent of this amount will be allegedly given by Reyes to Mapiles.