The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed multiple charges against Digicars chief executive officer (CEO) Reynaldo Calda and 49 other employees before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
Among the charges filed are computer-related forgery under Section (4)(b)(1) of Republic Act (RA) No. 10175 or Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and estafa under Article 315 (2)(a) of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175.
They were also charged with syndicated estafa under Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1689 or the “Increasing the penalty for certain forms of swindling or estafa”, in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175.
The charges stemmed from the multiple complaints of 56 complainants received by the Anti-Organized and Transnational Crimes Division.
The complaints, according to the NBI, alleged that Digicars “had been offering vehicles and motorcycles on its website and Facebook page at prices below the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) of each vehicle and motorcycles.”
Potential clients were also allegedly enticed by Digicars with lower monthly installment options for auto/financing loans.
Complainants also alleged that they were asked by the agents to get an approved auto financing or loan from other dealers before availing of the subject advertised auto loan.
This will be followed by a payment to Digicars amounting to 50% of the original vehicle price, with Digicars getting the 30% and the 20% paid as down payment to a dealer.
“Investigation revealed that Digicars only acted as financing company and not a multi-franchise dealer as what they represent in their advertisements on Facebook and their webpage,” the NBI said.
“These misrepresentations resulted in inauthentic data shared through their website and Facebook page misleading Complainants to entering into a contract with them and eventually part with their money,” it added. –DC-ag
