Cops nab suspected swindler

The Makati City Police Department (MCPD) announced yesterday the arrest of a suspected swindler operating in Metro Manila and the province of Bicol.

By virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Pasig Judge Eutropio Megrino, Leoncio del Rosario Fonacier, 67, was nabbed in an operation conducted by a team headed by Senior Inspector Alejandro Alisangco last Aug. 17 at the Ortigas Center.

Bing Abano, one of Fonacier’s alleged victims, said the suspect operates by inviting local and foreign investors into putting their money in mining ventures.

"He gets the money and runs away with it," he said, identifying himself as the president of the Camarines Norte Miner’s Association.

Abano accused Fonacier, who happens to be his uncle, of using his grandfather’s property for alleged swindling activities.

Fonacier said he is the real victim of harassment by relatives who continue to squabble over a 48-hectare property, which he inherited from his father.

"Mga pamangkin ko yan, indirect heirs," he told The Star, noting that all he did was work all his life to develop the iron industry in Camarines Norte.

Fonacier said he hopes people would see the true picture of how he has been victimized by the "greed" of his relatives.

"Are they the complainants? Is this not pure harassment? Sila ba ang apektado? What is their purpose? To discredit me as a businessman?" Fonacier asked.

Records showed that Fonacier, a businessman, had been convicted three times by the Makati, Pasig, and Quezon City courts and has pending warrant of arrest issued by other courts.

"Very elusive ito, he was never captured despite three convictions and other cases," said MCPD chief Superintendent Felipe Napoles Jr. as he asked other people victimized by Fonacier to file charges.

Alisangco said Fonacier did not resists arrest when he and his men chanced upon him in Ortigas.

"May lawyers na siya na pumunta dito and he talked to them," he said.

Fonacier is currently detained and will be turned over to the Pasig RTC tomorrow. – Michael Punongbayan