DENTIST LOSES P93M IN INVESTMENT SCAM; 2 SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN STING

BY KEVIN GALANG

OPERATIVES of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested in an entrapment operation two individuals accused of involvement in an alleged multi-million peso investment scam in Pampanga.

In a report to CIDG Regional Field Ulit 3 (RFU3) chief Col. Grant Gollod, the CIDG -Tarlac identified the suspects as alias “Joyce,” of San Vicente, Tarlac City; and alias “Maurice,” of Bgy. Matatalaib, Tarlac City.

The CIDG Tarlac Provincial Field Unit (PFU) led by Maj. Arvin Hosmillo launched the sting, in coordination with the CIDG Angeles City Field Unit and Angeles City police, at the Marquee Mall in Bgy. Pulung Maragul, Angeles City. 

Authorities conducted the operation following complaints filed by Dr. Marie Faith Sagun-Villarta, a licensed dentist, and Jennifer Bennett, both residents of Tarlac City, who accused the suspects of swindling them through false investment schemes amounting to P93,018,545.72.

The suspects were caught receiving a brown envelope containing the marked money from the complainants, supposedly as an additional investment.

Recovered from the suspects were a  BPI cheque amounting to P9,000,000; a Metrobank cheque  worth  P9,000,000; one brown envelope containing the marked money; boodle money amounting to P1,998,000;  the buy bust money; and two cellphones.

 CIDG investigators said  complainant Sagun-Villarta had earlier sought police’ assistance after discovering that one of the suspects, whom she initially trusted with investment dealings, was allegedly defrauding her.

Sagun-Villarta said she was persuaded to trust the suspects and invest after they gave her expensive gifts that included a bag, a watch, and two vehicles.

Despite already collecting over P93 million from the complainant, the suspect reportedly continued to entice her to invest additional funds, leading to the entrapment operation.

Charges for violation of Article 315, Paragraph 2 (a) of the Revised Penal Code (swindling estafa) were filed against the arrested suspects before the Angeles City Prosecutor’s Office.