Court dismisses estafa raps vs Joson, et al

The Regional Trial Court of Pasay City Branch 115 dismissed the case against Dina Joson and her companions for estafa after the prosecution failed to present evidence to support the finding of probable cause.

"Therefore, for failure of the prosecution to present evidence to support the finding of probable cause for the commission of the offense of estafa under Article  315, paragraph 2 (a) of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Section 6 RA10175 against accused Dina Joson Castr @Dinah Bartolome Lopez, @dinah Lopez Umali @Dina Bartolome Joson, Ma. Luisa Barlan y Joson and Helen Remolador Brtolome, the case against them must be dismissed," stated the ruling of Judge Edilwasif T. Baddiri, presiding judge, dated 11 December 2023.

The judge also ordered the chief of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Quezon City police station  to- immediately released the accused  unless they are being held in other lawful cause or causes.

To recall accused Joson, Ryan Lester Dino, Davis Luis Tan, Carlo Africa Maderazo, Maria Luisa  Barlan and Helen Remorador were charged with estafa under Article 315, par. 2 of the Revised Penal code in relation to RA 10175 at the Pasay City court.

They were arrested in November by the NBI after they allegedly misled prospective contractors by claiming to have connections to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

The senator's office gave the go-ahead for the arrests of Ryan Lester Dino (also known as David Tan), Carlo Maderazo (also known as Engineer Maderazo), Dina Castro and Ma. Luisa Barlan in Pasay City, according to the NBI-Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division

They are being prosecuted for violating the Anti-Alias law, usurpation of authority, hiding their genuine identity and engaging in estafa.

According to a victim-complainant, Maderazo identified himself as an engineer and told him that the local government of Pasay City was looking for an aggregate supplier for a reclamation project.

Maderazo informed the complainant that he would have to pay an upfront charge of P400,000 and a lock-in payment of P100,000, which would be given as grease money to the Pasay City Hall workers.

Emille Joson, award winning filmmaker, youngest sister of Dina Joson and Ma. Luisa Barlan, in a statement: "I'm very happy with the court's decision of course and I think we should respect it. The truth will always prevail. To Senator Gatchalian I know he means well but next time do a proper investigation. People voted him for a reason, so do something more humane and always get their fact straight."