Icelle Galorio Desdechado, who allegedly made a living scamming her victims of their hard-earned money was finally arrested after police collared her at the Tubigon port before she could board a fastcraft bound for Cebu.
The apprehension of Desdechado, 37 years old, separated and a resident of Barangay Boctol, Jagna came after the Jagna Philippine National Police (PNP) tipped off the Tubigon Police Station of her presence at the Tubigon pier.
Police Senior Inspector Robert Lucernas together with a four-man police team seized Desdechado based on a warrant for her arrest ordered by Presiding Judge Angie M. Ucat-Logarta, Presiding Judge of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MCTC) Branch 2, City of Tagbilaran.
Desdechado was found guilty of issuing three Metrobank checks to Susana Lomotos that later on bounced due to insufficient funds in the amount of Php910,000.00, a violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22 commonly referred to as the “Bouncing Checks Law”
Lomotos, who described Desdechado as charming and well-spoken and are both members of the same church earned her trust and confidence after sweet-talking her into lending her money to defray expenses in her application for work in Canada.
Desdechado is also facing a complaint for illegal recruitment filed by Sherlock Rufino of Barangay Can-upao, Jagna after being duped for $1,359 or Php59,070.00 for the reservation and training for a slot at Oil and Gas at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company as a remote operated vehicle pilot (ROV-Pilot).
Another resident of Can-upao, Jagna, Alyssa Muraloo also complained that a certain Izel Galorio whom she met as a regular customer of Prime Asia-Jagna Branch seduced her into parting with Php5,000 for medical examination fee as part of recruitment expenses for a job at the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Both victims filed their complaints at the Jagna Police Station on May 25, 2016.
Seven more victims have contacted authorities using their Facebook accounts saying they are coming into the open to file complaints against Desdechado whose scamming expertise netted her an estimated Php3.5 million.
Desdechado gained Lomotos trust before swindling her and taking her for a ride with stories of winning millions in a lottery but managed to persuade Lomotos to lend her more money to claim her prize.
Desdechado promised Lomotos to pay her back when she lands a job in Canada but again weaved another tale that she met an accident in Manila and needed money for a major operation.
Lomotos who was now desperate to get her money back fell for Desdechado’s tall tales and even released more money hoping that she will eventually get paid.
In a six-page joint decision issued on February 21, 2018, the court ordered Desdechado to pay Lomotos a total amount of Php909,544.00 plus 6% legal interest per annum for the three criminal cases.
Desdechado was also ordered to pay a fine in the three criminal cases in the amount of Php460,000.00 within 15 days from promulgation of the joint decision with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency.
Authorities are urging her alleged victims to file complaints against Desdechado as she is presently locked up at the Jagna Police Station awaiting transfer to the proper prison facility. (Chito M. Visarra)