Police collar two swindlers

CEBU, Philippines - Two suspected swindlers were arrested in separate entrapment operations conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7 and the Talisay City Police Office last Monday.

Jessielyn Abuera Fernando, 37, of A.S. Fortuna, Barangay Bakilid, Mandaue City, was arrested by the operatives of CIDG-7 at a coffee shop along Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City at 7:30 pm Monday.

Fernando was accused of swindling three persons and earned P10 million from them.

She allegedly befriended her victims and once she gained their trust, convinced them to pawn their lots to her friend.

One of her victims, Socorro Rigor, 74, of Sambag I in Cebu City, sought assistance from CIDG 7 who entrapped Fernando.

Rigor said Fernando pawned her two properties to a certain Eugene Caballero, reportedly a mayor of Zamboanga, at P5.8 million.

“Kung makahibalo siya nga naa kay property amigahon ka niya. Ingon siya ang gihatag ni mayor kay five million ra pero wala koy nadawat, daghan na siya og estorya,” Rigor told The FREEMAN adding she no longer got her land titles.

Fernando then asked for P300,000 from her as interest for the pawned properties.   During the entrapment, operation, the operatives handed P300,000 marked money to Fernando.    

Another victim is Cristita Luder, 87, of San Francisco, Camotes Island. She was represented by her daughter, Gina Quinto.

Quinto told The FREEMAN that Fernando befriended her mother in June last year.

She told Luder they will use her lot as a resort for Japanese tourists and they will share the profit.

Quinto said that in order to start the project, Fernando allegedly asked Luder to transfer the land title to her name to attract investors.

Fernando also promised to give P1 million to Luder as signing bonus.

Luder heeded the request and the title of her property was successfully transferred to Fernando’s name.

“Nakuyawan lagi mi kay naa namo ang titulo pero ang Deed of Sale iya nang ngalan basin asa niya gigamit,” she said.

Monica Chan, 42, of Barangay Kalunasan in Cebu City, narrated that Fernando was a friend of her sister.

CIDG investigator Michael Ferrolino said the suspect also asked for P4 million from Chan to be used as show money to a Japanese national who wanted to put up a hotel.

Fernando said she will be one of the stockholders.

Fernando promised an interest of P200,000 for two months.

Since she knows Fernando, she agreed to lend her P4 million.

In Talisay City, police arrested an agent of a telecommunication company for illegally installing wireless internet connection for a fee.

Talisay City Police collared Jonathan Hortesano after transacting with PO1 Rechel Origenes who served as police decoy.

Origenes handed P4,500 marked money to Hortesa in exchange for the installation of an internet connection.

Hortesano’s victims complained at the Globe Telecom’s office after their connections were cut.

They said Hortesano asked them to pay P8,000 for their internet connection and told them they no longer need to pay their monthly bill.

It turned out that Hortesano, 34, of Barangay Yati, Liloan, is only an agent who is tasked to invite customers and process their wireless internet connection application.

Jojo Biray, security operation of the Visayas area of the Globe Telecom, sought police assistance to entrap Hortesano.

Hortesano claimed that the transaction he made with Origenes was the first as he is not allowed to install internet connection.

The two entrapped suspects will be facing estafa charges. – (FREEMAN)