By Benjamin Pulta/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Peter Joemel Advincula, alias “Bikoy”, on Tuesday failed to attend the hearings on the estafa charges lodged against him before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly defrauding a businessman of more than PHP300,000.
During the hearing, Assistant State Prosecutor Herbert Calvin P. Abugan, who is handling the case, also received the affidavit of one of the complainant’s witnesses, Danrick B. Corpuz.
In his complaint, Arvin E. Valmores of Arthur World Marketing Corp. said his company’s identity was used without authorization by Advincula through the latter’s business organization Exodus Phil 79 Marketing Advertising and Promotion Team, which conducted a beauty pageant in Polangui, Albay last year.
Advincula’s firm had been a distributor of Valmores’ perfume products.
Corpuz, the production director of the pageant, confirmed that during the entire duration of the pageant activities, Advincula “handled all the sponsorship solicitation and requirements for the candidates, which included the sale of products and promotional materials.”
He said during coronation night, Advincula did not show up and could no longer be contacted.
“We also checked with his office at Monasterial Residence, San Roque St., Dunao, Ligao City, Albay but we found out that he has vacated the same,” Corpuz said.
He testified that winners did not receive their respective awards and cash prizes and production staff was left unpaid.
In organizing the beauty pageant, Advincula used Valmores’ corporate name and logo in the promotional activities allegedly without the corporation’s knowledge, authorization, and consent to conduct the beauty pageant on Aug. 11, 2018.
When Advincula became unreachable, the pageant winners and unpaid staff contacted Valmores who learned about the “sponsorship” for the first time.
To avert bad publicity for his business, Valmores decided to pay the 28 unpaid individuals, costing him PHP304,000.
The complainant, who was represented by former Bureau of Corrections director Benjamin delos Santos, said he had been forced to explain the circumstances leading to damage and loss to his corporation.
He was only able to trace Advincula after the latter resurfaced in a press conference at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines last May 6.
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