Travel agency owner nabbed for swindling

Manila, Philippines - An owner of a travel agency was arrested in an entrapment in Pasay City Friday for allegedly offering non-existent tour packages to at least 21 people, officials said yesterday.

Chief Inspector Vicente Cabatingan, Laguna Special Team Group chief, said charges of large-scale estafa were filed before the Pasay City prosecutor’s office against Mae Torres, 40, president and owner of Maeven Budget Travel and Tours. The firm’s office is at the Royale Mansion along Balagtas street in Pasay.

Torres also has a pending warrant of arrest for swindling in Laguna, Cabatingan said.

He said the entrapment, conducted by Pasay and Laguna police officers, stemmed from complaints filed by businesswomen Ivy Gonzales, 23, and Hazel Nocedo, 33; as well as Zaldy Hacutina, 43, and Eric Elauria, 30, both of Calamba City.

Laguna police director Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz told The STAR that aside from Gonzales and Nocedo, at least 19 other complainants from Laguna and nearby provinces went to his office for help.

Cruz said the complainants alleged that they paid Torres for complete group tour packages outside the country but the packages turned out to be non-existent. He created a team, led by Cabatingan, to conduct an operation to trap Torres.