A car driver fled without paying after fueling up at a gasoline station in Brooke’s Point, Palawan, leaving the gas attendant at a loss.
The suspect, along with a woman believed to be his wife, reportedly had not only fueled their car but also filled eight additional containers with gasoline.
According to gas attendant Jenson Gotle, the two had pleaded with him to let them refuel, promising to come back and pay, but they never returned. Gotle, who later took to Facebook to appeal to the suspects, pleaded for compassion.
“[Naki-usap] kayo sakin na kargahan kayo kaya [please,] ako naman [maki-usap] nagwo-work lang naman ako nang marangal po at maliit lang naman ang aking sahud. Kaya [please,] sana [yung] sabi nyo na babalik kayo, sana totoo po na babalik kayo kasi po wala akong pang tapal sa na mudos mo sa akin. Kaya [please,] bumalik kayo para mabayaran ang kinarga ko sa inyo ma’am, sir, maawa naman kayo sa akin,” Gotle wrote in his post.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook Live video posted on the morning of April 22, Police Major Thirz Starsky Timbancaya identified the car driver as Jayson Gabayan Viray, who he said is also linked to various forms of fraud, including in the nearby town of Narra.
“Si Mr. Jayson Gabayan Viray, may kasama siyang babae na buntis, ‘yung kanyang misis. ‘Yung babaeng ito at ‘yung lalaking ito ay sila din po ang gumawa pala nitong pagsasangla ng apat na motorsiklong pineke ang dokumento,” Timbancaya stated during his live broadcast.
Timbancaya also showed four motorcycles currently in police custody in Narra, along with falsified documents the suspects allegedly handed over to a businessman they had scammed.
“Nagulat ako na ‘yung taong ‘yun na nai-post natin, ‘yung mukha nun ay ‘yun din pala ang may pakana ng sangla ng motorsiklo. Kawawa ‘yung tao dito sa Narra na isang negosyante, pinagsanglaan ng motorsiklo. Lima sana ‘yun pero ‘yung isa ay hindi lang natuloy,” he added.
Authorities also discovered that the vehicle used by the suspects during the gas station scam was only rented.
As of now, the suspects remain at large, and law enforcement authorities are continuing their efforts to locate them and hold them accountable.
