Estafa charges will be filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group against a store owner for non-payment of accounts and for issuing several bouncing checks to her suppliers in Sibulan, Oriental Negros.

More than 15 individuals lodged a complaint before the Sibulan police to file a complaint against Rachelle Cheng Valencia Bartoces, of Batinguel, Dumaguete City, who was arrested by the CIDG by virtue of warrants of arrest, for estafa. Bartoces owns the Star Plaza Store, that is renting two stalls at the Khan Arcade Commercial in Tubtubon, Sibulan.

It opened only on June 9, but closed shop yesterday, allegedly for non-payment of accounts. One of the complainants, Nancy Dingal, proprietor of the Khan Arcade, sued her for issuing P35,530 in check as initial payment for the stalls.

However, the check bounced.

Police said also expected to file similar complaints are Bartoces' suppliers, a local band who played during the opening of Star Plaza, and the owner of the house she is renting.

At least eight employees of Star Plaza are also filing a separate complaint for non-payment of wages for 11 days. One of them, Urselle Piñero said Bartoces told them they will be paid yesterday.

Aside from the payment of their salary, employees also plan to seek the help of the Department of Labor in claiming that their salaries are way behind the minimum wage, and they are working 16 hours a day.

Bartoces, who is now detained, refused to issue any statement.*JG

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