A RESTAURANT owner spent almost P65,000 to a bogus client claiming to be Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.
On Tuesday afternoon, September 17, Korean restaurant owner Orange Mae Angulo posted on her Facebook account photos of the dishes that the man who claimed to be the vice mayor ordered, wherein the bill reached a total of P63,530.
Angulo said her staff prepared all the dishes and drinks, including some drinks the bogus customer requested.
“Gi pangayo ang akuang number then nag-call siya. Natingala ko na lahi man jud ug tingog tapos tagalog mu storya. Duda na kaayo ko mao sige ko pangutana sakung mga staff if tinuod jud na si Vice kay lahi jud ug tingog. As-in super duda na jud kaayo ko. [sic] (The customer asked my number from one of my staff. He called me but I got suspicious because his voice sounded different. He was also speaking in Tagalog. I doubted if he was really the vice mayor. I repeatedly asked my staff because I was not convinced it was vice mayor’s voice),” she said on her post.
She said the customer even requested her to buy the special drink from a particular store. He also requested to buy some drinks in a convenience store, which does not exist in the city.
Angulo added the customer got mad after failing to meet his demands.
“Ana ko ipa-deliver lang naku sakung supplier ug ipa-palit lang sakung staff ang c2. Nasuko siya, nag-yaw2x. Gi sayang daw naku ilang oras, nag p*t**g ina pa xa. [sic] (I told him that I will ask my staff to get his requested beverage from our supplier. He got pissed and started yelling at me, saying I just wasted his time. He even cursed at me),” she said.
She later confirmed that she was not transacting with Duterte. However, she said that since her staff prepared the bogus customer’s orders, they did not cater to other customers. But their efforts were futile.
Her post had 459 shares and 294 comments as of Wednesday.
Restaurant and other food-related business establishment owners who commented on Angulo’s post also shared similar situation.
The victim replied to netizen’s comments, one of which was she could have asked for down payment before proceeding with the order.
“Ang nahitabo is gi-tagaan lang mi gamay na time ug padulong na daw sila. Authentic amuang gina-serve and sa ka daghan sa orders need jud namu na lutuon in advance kay kung dili dugay jud kaayo ang preparations (The incident was so sudden that we were only able to prepare in a short period of time because the caller said they are on their way. Our dishes are authentic and that we have to prepare and cook it in advance due to the number of dishes ordered),” Angulo said, adding the reservation was made at 11:07 a.m.
She said it was the first time a politician will have a reservation at their restaurant, considering it is the vice mayor himself who will be dining.
Meanwhile, Duterte in his official statement, said, “It’s unfortunate that a number of restaurants have fallen victims to individuals who were apparently out to pull off some injurious pranks on them — using my name”.
He said he received two complaints from different restaurants who allegedly used his name in ordering food and demanding expensive drinks from the owners.
“The public is being urged to be constantly wary and to practice caution in dealing with individuals who present themselves as me or my representatives,” Duterte said.
“If you sense that something is suspicious, please go to the nearest police station to report,” Duterte added.