Cops arrest woman, daughter in Koronadal swindling case

KORONADAL CITY -- Police here arrested a mother-daughter tandem for allegedly duping a public school teacher of Php 25,000 cash for her transfer from Iligan City schools division to Koronadal City.In a report, the Koronadal City police office identified the suspects as Lalaine Faeldonia and her 17-year-old daughter.The Department of Education (DepEd-12) identified the teacher only through her first name Vangie.”Vangie, currently a teacher in Iligan City but a resident of Barangay Sto Nino, Koronadal City, sought police assistance after she started doubting the credibility and capacity of Faeldonia to facilitate her transfer to Koronadal City schools division.Vangie said Faeldonia claimed to be a close relative of former DepEd-12 Regional Director Allan Farnazo who is now regional director for DepEd-10 based in Cagayan de Oro City.Iligan City schools division is under DepEd-10.Vangie said Faeldonia told her to prepare Php 25,000 as grease money” for DepEd officials who woulill work” on her papers. She has already given Faeldonia P25,000.She told police that Faeldonia claimed she had already successfully worked for the transfer of several teachers to other divisions.But Vangie became suspicious when Faeldonia demanded for another Php 15,000 so the transactions” will be completed. This prompted her to seek police assistance.A police entrapment operation was carried out where Vangie handed over the Php 15,000 additional cash to the suspect at a fast food chain in Koronadal City on Tuesday. This led to the arrest of Faeldonia, jobless and a resident of Barangay Sta Cruz, Koronadal City.It turned out Faeldonia was not in any way related to Farnazo or to any DepEd official.Vangie said every time she met with Faeldonia, the latter’s daughter was with her. The daughter, not identified in the report being a minor, joined her mother at the Koronadal police office detention cell while cases of swindling and extortion are being prepared against Faeldonia.Antonio Maganto, DepEd-12 regional information officer, has appealed to the teachers not to deal with any go between” in working for transfer of places of assignment.Maganto said paper works for teachers seeking new assignments were done at DepEd regional office without any fee.He advised teachers to write a formal letter request to their respective school principal who would in turn forward the request to the schools division office then to the regional office for appropriate action. DepEd is very strict in processing of papers on teachers’ assignments, these are always done above board and no money was involved,” Maganto said in a radio interview.