Remittance firm's execs face more fraud charges

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday said it has filed another case of syndicated estafa (fraud) against the officials of a remittance company that failed to remit the money of an overseas Filipino worker (OFWs) based in the United Kingdom (UK). The case against officials and incorporators of Far East Express Remittance Inc. this time stemmed from a complaint of Creselda Uy, a native of Baybay, Leyte, said NBI Director Nestor Mantaring. The NBI had earlier filed similar charges against FEERI officials based on the complaint of Rovelyn Ann Pansoy of Batangas province. Charged at the Makati City Prosecutor's Office were Josephine Alayon, Adan Ubando, Jerome Ubando, Lalaine Ubando, Edwin Ong, lawyers Roberto Dio and Ma. Pilar Pilares-Gutierrez. Head Agent Arnel Dalumpines, chief of the NBI-Special Task Force which filed the syndicated estafa charges recently, said Uy complained to the NBI that sometime in April, her sister, Cresvenia Datahan sent through London-based AJ Global Services Ltd. a check with an amount of 5,500 pounds (P458,460). The check was supposed to be remitted and deposited to Uy's savings account at the Metrobank branch on Baybay, Leyte. Months have passed but the complainant have yet to receive no amount in her account, prompting her to call Dahatan abroad. Uy said she repeatedly demanded FEERI to turn over the money. But what she got was a letter of apology from the company, explaining that the delay in delivering the remittance money was caused by system deficiency and problem in their accounting system. Further, FEERI reportedly gave an assurance that the amount will soon be deposited to Uy's bank account. Uy claimed that between June and September, FEERI made successive remittances of P130,000 to her account. But the remaining balance of P328,460 never came. Background investigation revealed that Far East Express transferred their office in August 2008 from Valero Tower Condominium to G/F South Star Plaza Building, South Super Highway, barangay Bangkal in Makati. However, in the first week of October, the respondents allegedly moved out from their new office building to an unknown place, and their present whereabouts are unknown to many customers and complainants who filed similar complaints at the NBI. Investigators said they have found that documents obtained from UK revealed that Lalaine and Adan Ubando were both the company directors of FEERI and AJ Global. In the case of Pansoy, investigation disclosed that sometime last May 8, Marjorie Coates, an OFW in London, deposited a check worth 6,667 pounds (P552,000) in favor of Pansoy through London-based AJ Global Services Ltd/ Far East Express LTD. The money was supposed to be remitted and deposited to Pansoy's savings account at the Philippine National Bank (PNB) in Tabunok, Talisay Branch. A representative from Far East Express, AJ Global's sister company in the Philippines, informed Coates that the check would be cleared on May 15. PNB, however, informed the complainant days later that no amount was deposited into her account. This prompted the complainant to call her sister abroad, who subsequently confronted the staff of AJ Global Services Ltd. When Pansoy checked again days later, she was asked by officials of Far East Express to wait for a few more days because they were allegedly experiencing an accounting and auditing problem. Pansoy said she never received the amount despite the many promises of the officials of Far East Express. She said this prompted her to file a complaint before the NBI. Dalumpines said they had sent subpoenas to respondents for the investigation, but the respondents failed to appear. - GMANews.TV