Businesswoman nabbed for estafa

A young Malabon City businesswoman, arrested last week for two counts of estafa, may stay in jail longer after a number of her alleged victims surfaced and also charged her with defrauding them of millions of pesos in undelivered cell cards and cell phone units.

Suspect Alegria Soguillon, alias Trisha, 22, of Don Basilio street, Barangay Hulong Duhat, Malabon City, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Northern Field Office agents, led by PO2 Rex Casinos, by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Rosa Reyes of Malabon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 74.

"A simple case of estafa is entitled to bail, but once the complaints against her (Soguillon) will be consolidated, it now constitutes large-scale estafa that is an unbailable offense. But it’s up to the court to determine," Superintendent Gene Ines Abrajano, CIDG-NFO chief, said.

At least five of Soguillon’s alleged victims, some claimed to be close family friends, surfaced at Abrajano’s office and positively identified Soguillon as the one who allegedly gypped them of thousands of pesos in cash.

Irma Pablo, a cell phone and cell card dealer, of 21 Andres Gabriel Subdivision, Malabon City, told police that the suspect allegedly duped her of some P1.8 million in undelivered cell phones and cell cards.

Theresa Cubacub, a trader and wife of a ranking police official, of Kaunlaran Village, Malabon City, accused Soguillon of fleecing her of a total of P866, 500. — Pete Laude