The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) on Friday filed two counts of theft against a 31-year-old man who misrepresented himself as a nurse in duping online gadget sellers.
Raymond Lequin is facing more charges after at least 10 more people appeared at the NBI-7 office in Cebu City and filed complaints against him.
Lequin chose to waive his right to a preliminary investigation, prompting Assistant City Prosecutor Simaco Labata to recommend the filing of charges against the respondent before the court.
Bail was set at P20,000 for each case.
Lequin was arrested by NBI agents in an entrapment operation inside the Visayas Community Medical Center (VCMC) in uptown Cebu City last Thursday.
NBI assistant regional director Dominador Cimafranca said they acted on several complaints from people who claimed to have been duped by Lequin.
Cimafranca said Lequin duped several people inside the VCMC, Chong Hua Hospital, Velez Hospital, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and Perpetual Succour Hospital—all in Cebu City.
During the operation, Lequin met with someone who pretended to sell a cellphone to the suspect inside the VCMC. Similar to previous incidents, Lequin tried to leave the hospital after taking the seller’s cellphone without paying for it.
Interviewed by reporters after the operation, Lequin admitted the accusations hurled against him.
He said he has duped at least 10 people because he needed money to address a “family problem.” He said he sold stolen items outside a mall in Cebu City. He claimed to be an under graduate nursing aide who used to work as a caregiver.
“This sends a message to everyone to be cautious. Do not trust anyone right away especially if it’s the first time you’ve met someone. Be careful of who you are dealing with,” Cimafranca said.
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