Woman faces raps over credit card mess

A woman from Cebu City is facing criminal charges over an alleged fraudulent use of credit cards.

The Cebu City Prosecutor's Office found sufficient ground to charge Cathleen Joy Rosel with estafa punishable under the Revised Penal Code for violating Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998.

"The Access Devices Act punishes those who possessed and used access devices fraudulently applied for," reads part of the prosecutor's resolution.

A bail of P24,000 was recommended for Rosel's temporary liberty. The case stemmed from the complaint filed by Eastwest Banking Corp., which accused Rosel and two others, Girly Luchavez and Marical Rosal, of estafa and for violation of the Access Devices Regulation Act.

Eastwest claimed that the respondents who worked in the company applied for credit cards allegedly using fictitious names.

The bank's fraud control officers searched the respondents' office in Cebu City and recovered fraudulent credit cards from their possession.

Rosel utilized P192, 292 of the credit card balance while Luchavez and Rosal used up to P229,033 and P336,801, respectively.

The prosecutor's office, however, said the respondents did not conspire to commit the crime.

"On the evidence on record, there was only presumption that respondents act in unison. And presumption cannot be taken as clear and convincing evidence sans indication of concerted and cooperative acts," it said.

The complaint against Luchavez and Rosal have not yet been elevated to court.

If found guilty of estafa, a person may be jailed up to six years depending on the amount of the fraud, with additional one year for each additional P10,000 if the amount exceeds P22,000.

Vencynth H. Braga/JMO