Pasay RTC junks estafa case vs. 3 persons who allegedly posed as senator's staff

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 21) — The Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 115 has dismissed the estafa case filed against three individuals arrested for allegedly claiming to be staff members of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian in order to collect money.

In a decision signed on Dec. 11, Judge Edilwasif Baddiri said there was insufficient basis to convict Dina Joson Castro, Ma. Luisa Barlan, and Helen Remolador of the crime. He also ordered authorities to release them from detention.

The judge, however, decided that the estafa case against Ryan Lester Dino aka Davis Luis Tan (Tan) and Carlo Africa Maderazo will proceed.

They were arrested by authorities in an entrapment operation last Nov. 20 after the complainant quoted the accused as claiming they were connected with Gatchalian's office and they can help him secure a contract for the supply of aggregates for a reclamation project in Pasay City.

The victim said he was asked to pay a «lock-in payment fee» of P500,000 and an upfront payment of P100,000 to secure the contract. During the operation conducted by authorities, Tan and Maderazo received the marked money.

The court said the link between Tan and Maderazo and accused Castro, Barlan, and Remolador was based on a phone call from «ate dina new» who allegedly asked if he received the money.

It said the statement could not be interpreted to mean conspiracy between the accused without context.

«The statement has many connotations and cannot be conclusively or logically believed to mean that accused Castro, Barlan, and Remolador had knowledge of the transactions entered into by accused Tan and Maderazo,» the document read.