BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) and popular vlogger from this city confirmed to have received over $7,000 from a fellow Ilongga as part of the latter’s investment in a jewelry business venture.
However, Jinky Avelino-Mckenzie, known by the name QueenKix Bugris on Facebook, said yesterday she would only return the money to the complainant, Joy Derla-Ward, if the latter also paid for the damages she supposedly incurred by Derla-Ward’s going public about her complaint.
“So ara pa ko sa grace period sang nag pulok-pulok sya claim nga gin-scam ko kuno sya. Wala man ko nalagyo, kag nag-confirm man ko nga approved na, kag nag hambal sya mahulat lang three to seven days,” said Avelino-Mckenzie.
Avelino-Mckenzie is reportedly now living in Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. She reiterated that her partnership with Derla-Ward, who is based in Los Osos, California, USA, was legal.
“The damage has been done already. After she did this shenanigan, I consider the gold as payment sa pagpakahuya niya sa akon,” Avelino-Mckenzie told radio station DYRI RMN-Iloilo.
She was sought to air her side on the complaint of Derla-Ward.
Avelino-Mckenzie, 46, hails from Zone 5, Barangay Concepcion on Duran Street in Iloilo City. She also has other popular social media pages such as POGI TeeVee and Iloyski Jugriz.
Derla-Ward, who is originally from Barangay Tanza, said she had asked the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Dubai Police General Headquarters to investigate Avelino-Mckenzie. She believes she has been scammed.
Derla-Wards’ Complaint
In her complaint to the FBI, a copy of which she sent to Panay News, Derla-Ward said she began following Avelino-Mckenzie on social media sometime in January 2023.
Derla-Ward said she was enticed to watch Avelino-Mckenzie’s live videos since they were filled with humor and sometimes vulgar criticism of the Philippine government.
But Derla-Ward said Avelino-Mckenzie later started sending her messages on social media and asked for pledges to help the supposed less fortunate individuals in the Philippines, or to feed stray dogs in Iloilo City.
Convinced, Derla-Ward said, she regularly sent donations to Avelino-Mckenzie, although she admitted doubting if the money was indeed used for these charitable purposes.
On July 3, 2024, Derla-Ward said, Avelino-Mckenzie then offered her to become one of her business partners in the trading of gold jewelry from Dubai to the United States.
“Believing it to be a lucrative opportunity, I agreed and wired $5,000,” said Derla-Ward.
The following day, Derla-Ward said, Avelino-Mckenzie convinced her again to send an additional $2,500, claiming that the jeweler would add more grams of gold with a larger purchase.
Avelino-Mckenzie, according to Derla-Ward, asked her to transfer another $1,900, purportedly for the tax and shipping insurance of the jewelry from Dubai last July 12, 2024.
Despite Avelino-Mckenzie’s constant reassurances, Derla-Ward said, the jewelry never arrived. Fearing that she had been scammed, Derla-Ward said she researched online and discovered numerous complaints against the Dubai-based vlogger.
Derla-Ward said she learned that Avelino-Mckenzie had warrants of arrest in the Philippines, prompting her to alert the Dubai police.
Avelino-Mckenzie Explains
In the radio interview, Avelino-Mckenzie confirmed having received the $5,000 from Derla-Ward as partial payment for her investment. She said she purchased the jewelry in Dubai.
She further said Derla-Ward received the first set of jewelry and other merchandise on July 18, and that they agreed she would send the remaining set of jewelry weighing 400 grams at a later date.
However, according to Avelino-Mckenzie, her broker advised her that she could not possibly send the same as a gift to reduce shipment cost considering the weight of the jewelry.
Avelino-Mckenzie also insisted she was giving Derla-Ward regular updates about their transaction, but the US-based nurse eventually told her she wanted to recover her money should the jewelry not arrive on the agreed date on Wednesday last week.
“So ara pa ko sa grace period sang nag pulok-pulok sya claim nga gin-scam ko kuno sya. Wala man ko nalagyo, kag nag-confirm man ko nga approved na, kag nag hambal sya mahulat lang three to seven days,” said Avelino-Mckenzie.
The Ilongga vlogger debunked that the FBI or the Dubai police were investigating her for the alleged anomalous business transaction on jewelry.
“Indi ako human trafficker, money launderer or cartel,” she stressed.
OFW vs OFW
In a statement, Derla-Ward said she had documents showing she sent a total of $9,400 to Avelino-Mckenzie as share for their jewelry venture.
She dismissed base baseless Avelino-Mckenzie’s statement that the $7,000 will be offset to the damages that the vlogger incurred due to Derla-Ward’s going public about her complaint.
Derla-Ward stressed that Avelino-Mckenzie also failed to provide the tracking number for the parcel allegedly containing $7,500 worth of jewelry.
“Moreover, she could not produce an invoice to verify the purchase of the jewelry during the period of our communication,” added Derla-Ward.
The Ilongga nurse revealed she already secured the services of lawyers Doni June Almio and Carl David Galon of the reputable Oso, Pueblo, Hiponia, Alminio, and Associates.
“I am filing a string of criminal and civil cases against her in the Philippines and abroad. My lawyers are currently working on these cases,” said Derla-Ward./PN
