By Mae Singuay

Several victims of the controversial police recruitment scam urged La Castellana Councilor Donato Dumaguit to return their money.

Bienvenido Berja, the father of one of the scam victims, in an interview, appealed to Dumaguit to surface and to return their money.

He said the payment they allegedly gave to the councilor was borrowed from their relatives.

He added that each of them allegedly gave P247,000 to the councilor, who is nowhere to be found.

Some victims said they do not know where to get the money to pay for their relatives.

On the other hand, the said victims clarified reports that they had met with La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Mangilimutan.

The victims said they allegedly went to Mangilimutan’s house for assistance.

They added that Mangilimutan was not aware when they transacted with Dumaguit.

Dumaguit allegedly advised them not to tell anyone about the transaction.

The councilor had allegedly promised the victims admission to the Philippine National Police.

At least 11 estafa charges were filed against Dumaguit at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

Dumaguit has not attended six regular sessions and one special session of the La Castellana Sangguniang Bayan, after his name was included in the alleged scam last month.

Teodora Sumagaysay, provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in Negros Occidental, said Dumaguit’s absences could be used as a basis by the town council to impose disciplinary action./MS, WDJ