4 ‘fake’ real estate agents nabbed in Cavite

MANILA, Philippines — Four persons tagged in real estate scams were arrested in Cavite on Friday, authorities reported yesterday.

Joana Marie Cruzada and Joana Marie Viray, both of Alfonso, Cavite; Felmarich Dagohoy of Taguig City and Jovannie Cruz of Angat, Bulacan were collared in an entrapment set by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Barangay Sucat, Alfonso at around 3 p.m.

The suspects were reportedly selling properties of real estate developer Alta Vista without proper documents, particularly the certificate of registration and license to sell from the DHSUD.

The suspects claimed to be part of the 1Premier Land Marketing Co., reportedly the marketing arm of Alta Vista.

The 1Premier is not a registered company, the DHSUD said.

“This is a big blow to real estate scammers, who prey on unsuspecting home buyers, and a huge boost to DHSUD’s ongoing intensified campaign against unscrupulous individuals operating in the real estate industry,” Human Settlements Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said.

Del Rosario commended the DHSUD-regional office in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) headed by Jeck Otero and the NBI for the successful operation.

He urged other DHSUD regional offices to intensify their campaign against real estate scammers.