Scam Suspect Caught After Pavia Store Fraud

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Police arrested a 30-year-old habal-habal driver for allegedly scamming a sari-sari store owner in Pavia, Iloilo.

Alias Leo, of Barangay Sarawag, Janiuay, Iloilo, was caught in a hot pursuit operation around 6:30 a.m. on June 27 in Barangay Pandac, Pavia.

Officers from the Pavia Municipal Police Station recognized him because he was still wearing the same clothes and helmet used during the scam.

Store owner Malou of Barangay Pandac told police that Leo went to her store around 10:45 p.m. on June 26 and pretended to complete a PHP4,000 GCash transaction using a QR code.

Once the transaction was confirmed, he sped off on his motorcycle without handing over any cash.

Major Jose Nemias Pamplona, Pavia police chief, said they quickly launched an operation to catch him.

When flagged down, the suspect tried to escape but was grabbed by a responding officer.

In addition to Malou, two more victims—one from Pavia and another from Sta. Barbara—filed complaints against Leo.

Pamplona said Leo’s wife approached police asking if they could settle the case.

Just weeks earlier, another man from Janiuay was arrested for using the same modus operandi to scam victims from Pavia and Jaro, Iloilo City.