A state prosecutor has been assigned to conduct the preliminary investigation on the estafa complaints filed against Peter Joemel Advincula alias Bikoy.
Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said yesterday (May 24) that he has appointed Assistant State Prosecutor Herbert Calvin Suarez to handle the case and conduct the preliminary investigation.
The case was filed before the Department of Justice (DoJ) last May 10 by Ardeur World Marketing Corp president and chief executive officer Arven Valmores.
Valmores filed the case after recognizing on television Advincula who held a press conference last May 6 when he revealed that he was the hooded Bikoy in the viral “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos which accused a number of individuals including members of the Duterte family of being involved in the illegal drugs trade.
The complaint stemmed from the event Miss Scenti Essencia Amabassadress 2018 which was held in Polangui, Albay, on August 11, 2018. It was organized by Advincula who was only an independent distributor or seller of Ardeur’s perfume products.
“Said pageant utilized complainant’s corporate name and logo in the promotional activities without the knowledge, authorization and consent of the corporation,” read the complaint.
“Respondent never attended the Coronation Night and became unreachable thereafter, leaving all the members of the production staff unpaid,” it added.
Because of this, all the pageant big winners and production staff started to communicate with the complainant and sought redress of their grievances and unpaid prizes and wages amounting to a total of P304,422.
“Through false pretenses and use of the corporate name, complainant was damaged financially in the amount stated above,” the complaint said.
“Respondent became untraceable and efforts to locate him to answer for his misrepresentation remained until recently where he resurfaced in a Press Conference at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines offices last May 6, 2019. Finally, the undersigned now has the legal recourse against respondent for his criminal fraudulent act,” the complainant said. (Jeffrey Damicog)
