Two brothers who allegedly sold used and defective items online at high prices under a fake name were arrested in an entrapment operation on Thursday, Aug. 18, in Barangay Sagad, Pasig City.
The Eastern District Anti-Cybercrime Team (EDACT)’s report identified the suspects as Jester Sula Benito, 20, and Jesty Sula Benito, 32.
According to EDACT’s investigation, the female victim bought a video card on the Facebook Marketplace from a seller named “Juzto Oteneb”.
She said he offered the item to her at a sale price. The victim paid the seller P4,500 via G-Cash.
Upon receiving the item on the same day, the victim discovered it was “used and defective.”
She contacted the seller multiple times on Facebook Marketplace but was blocked.
When the victim contacted the seller through his personal messenger on Aug. 18, the seller “insisted the delivered item was new and in good condition.”
Afterwards, her number was blocked again.
The victim reported the incident to the EDACT office.
The suspects were arrested at around 4:25 p.m. on the same day by operatives of the EDACT and the Pasig City Police Sub-Station 2.
Police seized pink and blue cellphones from the suspects.
The suspects are now in the custody of the EDACT and will will be turned over to Pasig City Police detention cell.
The suspects are facing charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 7394 or “The Consumer Act of the Philippines,” Article 315 or swindling/ estafa from the Revised Penal Code (RPC), and RA 10175 or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.”
Brig. Gen. Joel B. Doria, acting director of the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), reminded the people to be “extra cautious in making transactions online.”