Operator, three employees, one customer charged with estafa for allegedly fixing bingo game
An operator of mall-based bingo games has filed estafa charges against three of its employees and one customer for allegedly conspiring to win millions in jackpot prizes.
The charges were filed against employees Jefferson Castillo, Catherine Vargas, and Liwliwa Viloria, who were accused of engaging in “game fixing activities” and using “fraudulent practices” to help player Rafael Ramirez win the “Bingo Milyonaryo” jackpot prize worth P3.96 million last January 19.
Castillo was the bingo host during the game, while Viloria and Vargas were the game attendants on duty.
According to the complaint filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Cauayan City, Isabela, Ramirez later approached the BingoPlus branch manager to complain that he had been “scammed” by the three employees.
An investigation revealed that after Ramirez claimed the jackpot prize, he split the winnings with Castillo, Vargas, and Viloria. The three employees were found to have devised a scheme to ensure that the bingo numbers announced by the host would match those on Ramirez’s bingo card.
The company, BingoPlus, stated that it has a “zero tolerance for any form of misconduct” and will take legal action to ensure that those involved are punished for their actions. The four accused are facing charges of estafa under Article 315 Section 3(b) and 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code and could face imprisonment of four to eight years.
