CEO employee's extortion racket thwarted
An employee of the City Engineers Office (CEO) attempted to extort money from the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation in Muelle Loney, City Proper recently. Luckily, the attempt was foiled after the company which owned the warehouse rented by the fertilizer firm made their own checking at the CEO.
Documents obtained by The News Today identified the culprit as Ricardo Gumabong an alleged electrical inspector of CEO. He used the letterhead of the CEO in his attempt to collect some P16,724.00 from the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp.
When checked at the CEO, a female employee who asked not to be named confirmed that Gumabong is a regular employee of the CEO but is already detailed at the Boarding House Commission (BHC) and is no longer part of the CEO's inspection team for a long time. Allegedly, Gumabong only submits his time card at the CEO.
On the other hand, Gumabong was disowned by the BHC through its administrative chief Minda Abella. She said Gumabong is no longer connected with the commission for the past two years.
She said, Gumabong was thrown out of the commission because of the various complaints received by their office against him.
In his failed extortion attempt, Gumabong sent a letter to the company and a billing statement which he signed alone. The billing statement was dated May 8, 2006.
Gumabong's letter claimed the billing is allegedly in accordance with the National Building Code or Presidential Decree 1096.
In his billing statement, Gumabong categorized the payments into three. He said the phosphate fertilizer has to pay P2,124.00 for the annual inspection fee; four copies of as build (sic) plan for P9,600.00 and signature of electrical engineers amounting to P5,000.00.
Accompanying the billing statement is a letter addressed to Mr. Arthuro K. Velayo, vice president for support, of the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation in Makati. The letter is also dated May 8, 2006.
Gumabong, in his letter said "the undersigned is about to conduct Annual Electrical Inspection in your building located at Muelle Loney. Such inspection should have been done in 2000 and yet, however, since the same inspection was not conducted the same shall scheduled anytime this month for year 2000 and 2006.
Moreover, Gumabong said he "would appreciate it very much if the necessary preparations prerequisite to such inspection will be ready." It is not clear what he meant on prerequisite to such inspection, whether the money or the needed documents.
Gumabong's attempt did not succeed after the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer referred his billing statement and letter to the Planters Product Inc. in Bacolod City. The Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer only rents the bodega to the Planters Product Inc. in Bacolod City. The bodega is more less 3,000 square meters.
On their part, the Planters Products Inc. sent Romeo Laud Jr., Acquired Asset Assistant for Visayas to Iloilo City. Laud went to the CEO last Monday and checked on the authenticity of Gumabong's billing statement. Only to find out, Gumabong's action is not sanctioned by the engineers office.
At the CEO, a female employee requested Laud to submit a letter of complaint. The same woman employee returned to Laud a copy of Gumabong's letter and billing statement. The same billing and letter was already marked received when they required Laud to submit a letter of complaint and eventually returned to him copies of Gumabong's letter.
When asked, Laud said he will refer the matter to their legal division for possible legal actions against Gumabong. He said it caused the company money and time in sending him to Iloilo City just to check the matter.
The News Today failed to reach CEO chief Engr. Marito Amatorio for comment at press time.