DepEd exec charged with estafa

An official of the Department of Education in Carcar City was indicted for estafa after she issued postdated checks to her creditor as loan security without sufficient funds in the bank.

The Cebu City Prosecutor's Office has found sufficient evidence to hold district supervisor Baby Ma. Elena Uytico for trial.

Uytico issued two checks payable to the complainant, Ferdinand Marinduque, as security after she was granted P29,033 loan in January 2017. The checks were in the amounts of P15,533.33 and P13,500. The complainant said he first declined the loan application of the accused but was assured that her checks were good.

Marinduque said the bank dishonored the checks for insufficiency of funds. According to the complainant, he demanded payment from the accused but the latter allegedly refused to settle her obligation despite repeated demands.

Uytico denied the complaint and claimed it was only intended to harass and embarrass her. She said the checks were sufficiently funded. She also claimed to have already paid cash to the complainant as settlement of her loan obligation.

The complaint was previously dismissed but was reversed after the complainant sought reconsideration. The prosecutor's office has recommended P16,000 bail for Uytico's temporary liberty.