A Cebu-based businessman was arrested after allegedly helping facilitate a P5.3-million fuel scam that promised steeply discounted diesel products, the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) said Friday.
Agents arrested the suspect during an entrapment operation at a shopping mall along A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue City on Monday.
It stemmed from a complaint for syndicated estafa filed by another businessman named Ruel De Veyra.
‘Diesel right now is at P88. And they are selling it for P53 only,’ NBI-7 agent Maria Contessa Lastimoso said.
Investigators said De Veyra was introduced to the deal by another suspect, who remains at large and allegedly claimed he could supply industrial diesel allocated to his company. However, the promised fuel was never delivered.
Instead, the suspect allegedly demanded an additional P575,000, claiming diesel prices at a Shell depot had suddenly increased.
After negotiations, De Veyra agreed to pay only P100,000, but the fuel still failed to arrive, according to the NBI-7.
The failed transaction prompted him to seek assistance from law enforcers, leading to the entrapment operation and the businessman’s arrest.
Authorities said the suspect, a resident of Liloan, Cebu, was arrested after allegedly receiving marked money during the operation.
He now faces charges of estafa under Article 315, Paragraph 2(e) of the Revised Penal Code and violation of Section 2(a) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 33, as amended, which penalizes the illegal trading of petroleum products.
NBI-7 said efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest the remaining suspect.