Cohort urges ex-councilor to face PNP scam charges

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – The alleged cohort of a former councilor in La Castellana town involved in the multimillion PNP recruitment scam has called on her accomplice to show up and face the charges with her.

Mary June de los Santos was pinpointed by former councilor Donato Dumaguit as his alleged boss in victimizing at least 43 residents, promising them a slot in the PNP for a hefty sum of P250,000, but the promises never materialized.

De los Santos, who is currently detained at the La Castellana Police detention cell, told reporters Thursday that she is asking Dumaguit to come out from hiding and face the charges with her.

“I think kinahanglan na siya (Dumaguit) mag gwa, kay ari naman ko diri subong kag ang kaso ara na sa korte, for us to clear everything,” de los Santos said.

She added that Dumaguit should show up to clear matters in court and with the complainants because “he is the one collecting the money from them and not me.”

De los Santos admitted to being part of the transaction but claimed she had no idea of the amount collected by Dumaguit from the victims.

“Tani mag gwa na sia kababaye ko gani serve ko ni,” de los Santos added.

She also cleared four policemen who were implicated in the case, reiterating that she and Dumaguit were the ones behind the transactions.

De los Santos further stated that she doesn’t know Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan, whose name was tagged by Dumaguit in the case, claiming that de los Santos and the mayor knew each other.

She said some of her relatives know the mayor, but she has no dealings with nor has she met Mangilimutan.

“I never met the mayor. All the things that Dumaguit accused the mayor of are fabricated, and she has nothing to do with this case,” de los Santos added.

“Ginahangkat ko gid si former SB Natnat nga mag gwa kag atubangon ini nga kaso, you have to face everything, duha ta,” she reiterated.

De los Santos said she surrendered, but according to the town’s police chief, P/Major Rhojn Darell Nigos, she was arrested in Tapaz, Capiz.

He said 12 warrants were served against de los Santos, but there are 43 complaints of swindling and estafa filed against her and Dumaguit.

He stated that the 43 victims were swindled out of P250,000 each, amounting to P10,750,000.

Nigos also said they are investigating if other persons are involved or if names are just being dropped.

Dumaguit, who was an active town councilor when the alleged recruitment scam happened, was ousted for committing 14 unexplained absences.

He is nowhere to be found and has reportedly gone into hiding.