September 1 to 7, 2012

Swindler goes missing

Missing! This is the person known only as Richard Santos Reyes. SCCPO Chief Harold Tuzon believes the name is fictitious. Photo source: www.facebook.com/ Gem Juanillo

Posing as a licensed computer and biology teacher and technician, a swindler amassed thousands worth of laptops, cellular phones, computer printers, projector, digital camera, and cash.

Using the name Richard Santos Reyes, he passed his resume and applied as computer teacher at Tañon College on May and presented that he came from Cagayan De Oro City where he had a computer services center. He said he fled after Sendong ravished the city and came to Negros with a girlfriend whose home was Escalante.

So believable was his story and impressive were his skills in computers that Dionisio Chavez, teacher at Don Carlos Ledesma National High School and part-time college instructor at Tañon, recommended him.

Chavez added that Reyes also shared several inputs for the college's application on offering a new course on computer hardware servicing. His nod became the basis of Cynthia A. Sanchez, Tañon College administrator, for hiring the suspected swindler.

However, Chavez had noted that all of Reyes' documents were only photocopies of the original so he sent a letter to Polytechnic University of the Philippines (where Reyes supposedly graduated), Manila Montessori (where he said he worked as a teacher), and the Professional Regulatory Commission. The letters to the two schools were sent back to the sender.

In June, Reyes was considered hired and was already teaching computer and natural science courses. He was also recommended to teach at San Isidro Community Learning Center, Sitio Mabuni, Barangay Guadalupe, a non-stock, non-profit group organized by Lina Valmayor and which receives help from sponsors abroad.

Reyes taught at the center every Sunday and when one of the religious nuns running the center told Chavez that the center needed to purchase organs for the choir, he also presented to take care of the transaction.

Chavez narrated that this was the start of the scum because Reyes was given

P 12,000 for 12 Yamaha organs which, based on an internet page, only cost P 1,000 each. Reyes was only able to deliver three items bought from Unitop and promised the nun that the rest will be delivered soon.

The learning center also invested P 100,000 for MRM Computer Center and Digital Services, a computer shop opened at Chui Boarding House, Gustilo Street, where Reyes used to rent a room with a live-in partner and a baby girl.

Based on the records that the religious nun, who asked that her name be not published in compliance with their order's rules, was able to keep, Reyes applied for Mayor's Permit for the said shop on June 25.

The application was readily approved and Reyes purchased one Canon printer with scanner, an Epson printer, lamination machine, flash drives, t-shirt printing machine, and several digital printer parts and ink wells.

All these save for the t-shirt printer are now gone as Reyes left San Carlos on September 1 without a trace.

The nun estimated that including P 27,500 cash, Reyes ran away with P 100,000 worth of digital equipment owned by the learning center.

Reyes also left without accounting P 48,000 which Tañon College had allotted for a project with the alumni.

The college's treasurer, Alice Algarme, confirmed that the suspect also went away with school properties including a new Infocus projector, two laptops, 3-in-1 printer, and 30 pieces of motherboard.

But it doesn't stop here. The suspect also convinced co-teachers and board mates that he could fix broken electronic gadgets and that he had connections with electronic goods supplier in Manila so he could order laptops and netbooks at lower prices.

Ma. Ligaya Saministrado, Tañon College assistant principal, and Ninfa Montaño, employee, also reported that Reyes was not able to return their cellular phones which he was supposed to fix.

Raymund Ogatis, student of Colegio de Sta. Rita and Reyes' board mate, ordered a netbook at P 10,000. Ogatis gave Reyes a P 5,000 down payment but the item never arrived.

Chavez added that he himself ordered a projector the size of a cellular phone at

P 16,000. The item arrived minus the original packaging and receipt. Some teachers at Don Carlos ordered, too. The items arrived but without packaging. Chavez concluded that Reyes may be operating with a network and has been hopping from one place to another repeating the same modus.

San Carlos City Police Office Chief Harold Tuzon said there are already three blotter reports against Reyes. However, no one has decided to press charges.

When asked of the possibility that Reyes operates a network, Tuzon said that so far there is no indication the crime is organized. He assured that if one victim will file a case the SCCPO will immediately send copies of Reyes' photo to different police headquarters to alert them.

As of press time, neither the police nor the victims have any clue on his whereabouts. He was last noted to have occupied a room at Yoyong's Travellers Inn.