A businessman who allegedly paid P5.3 million for 100,000 liters of discounted diesel fuel but received none of the promised shipment sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas Regional Office (NBI-CEVRO), leading to the arrest of a Liloan resident in a sting operation in Mandaue City.
The suspect, identified as Cruzaldo Fernandez Bastida of Barangay Cotcot, Liloan, was arrested around 2:40 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, inside a coffee shop at a mall along A.S. Fortuna St. in Mandaue City.
Authorities said Bastida was arrested while allegedly receiving P100,000 in marked money from the complainant.
The operation stemmed from a complaint filed by the businessman, who told investigators he had already paid P5.3 million for a diesel fuel transaction that was presented to him as legitimate.
According to investigators, the complainant agreed to purchase 100,000 liters of diesel at P53 per liter, significantly lower than the prevailing market price of around P88 per liter.
The low price allegedly convinced the complainant that the transaction was a legitimate business opportunity.
He was reportedly told that the fuel came from an industrial allocation intended for Eight Eleven Heavy Equipment Parts Supply.
Authorities said another respondent, who remains at large, allegedly convinced the complainant to proceed with the transaction by presenting the offer as a legitimate fuel supply arrangement.
Despite the P5.3 million payment, the promised diesel was never delivered.
The complainant was later allegedly told that he needed to pay an additional P575,000 because of a sudden increase in fuel prices at the Shell depot.
Unable to raise the full amount, the complainant reportedly negotiated to pay P100,000 initially while waiting for the fuel delivery.
When the shipment still failed to materialize, the complainant became suspicious and sought the NBI’s assistance.
The NBI then arranged an entrapment operation using the P100,000 as marked money.
Investigators said Bastida was arrested after allegedly accepting the money during the scheduled meeting at the mall.
Authorities said Bastida was the person assigned to meet the complainant and receive the additional payment.
Bastida is facing complaints for alleged violation of Article 315, Paragraph 2(e) of the Revised Penal Code, or estafa, and Section 2(a) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 33, as amended, which penalizes illegal trading in petroleum products.
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