LOCAL authorities arrested two foreign nationals at a hotel in Barangay Kapitolyo on Tuesday afternoon after they allegedly used fraudulent digital payment receipts to dodge tens of thousands of pesos in unpaid accommodation fees.
The suspects—identified by police under the aliases “Aime,” a 21-year-old African freelancer, and “Yossua,” a 27-year-old American student—were taken into custody around 12:00 PM on August 18, 2026, during a joint operation by the Pasig City Police Station and local barangay personnel.
According to police reports, both suspects had been staying separately at the same establishment since August 3, 2026.
Their alleged scheme unraveled when a hotel receptionist noticed irregularities during a routine audit at around 11:00 AM on Tuesday.
Staff discovered that both guests had been submitting digital receipts tied to the exact same Maya Bank account number as proof of settlement.
A deeper check into the hotel’s financial logs revealed that none of the funds claimed in the transactions had actually cleared or entered the business’s account.
Investigators also uncovered severe discrepancies on the submitted receipt screenshots, including transaction dates logged as July 4 and July 6, 2026, rather than the actual billing dates of August 4 and August 6.
When hotel management confronted the pair to demand immediate settlement for their outstanding balance—which totaled approximately ₱45,000.00—neither suspect could produce valid payment.
The hotel management immediately sought assistance from Barangay Security Force (BSF) and the Ortigas Police Sub-Station 1.
Responding police officers and members of the local Barangay Tanod quickly arrived at the venue to secure and apprehend the two individuals without further incident.
Pasig City Police Chief PCol. Hendrix B. Mangaldan praised the law enforcement officers and community watchmen for their swift, coordinated response.
Mangaldan highlighted that strong police-community cooperation and vigilant local businesses remain essential for curbing fraudulent and criminal activities across the city.
The Pasig City Police Station is currently preparing formal charges for estafa against both suspects for submission through inquest proceedings.
