Governor Edgar Chatto has reached out to Philippine National Police chief Director Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa appealing for a strengthened pursuit against the big-time swindling syndicate that victimized at least 27 Boholanos.
Chatto said that he conveyed the appeal to Dela Rosa during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gala dinner for the 10 Asean heads of state and other world leaders at SMX Convention Center in Pasay city on Monday night.
Dela Rosa reportedly responded to Chatto’s request by alerting the director of the PNP’s Highway Patrol Group Chief Superintendent Arnel Escobal to heighten the lookout for the suspects along roads across the country.
The said big-time syndicate is allegedly being led by one Feliza Domingo Torralba and comprised of at least six members identified as Marry Jane Torralba, Lia Domingo, Ferrer Ramsi Torres, John Michael and the two John and Jane Does.
They were charged with estafa before the Tagbilaran City Prosecutor’s Office on November 10.
The group allegedly used bouncing checks to amass merchandise and vehicles worth over P2 million from their victims in Bohol.
For his part, Bohol Provincial Police Office director Senior Supt. Felipe Natividad, said they have started to coordinate with the Agusan Del Norte police in the Caraga Administrative Region, the crime group’s purported base of operations.
Natividad also noted that they are looking into possible involvement of a Bohol-based associate of the group who may have helped Torralba’s group in easily moving into Bohol and fleeing the province when authorities were alerted.
Police are also considering the possibility of existing connections between the crime group and a person linked to the shipping company used by the suspects to enter Bohol and leave the province escaping back to Mindanao. (rt)