NBI agents arrest alleged swindler

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation arrested in Makati City Thursday an alleged member of a swindling gang which reportedly duped a businesswoman of more than P6 million.

The NBI identified the suspect as Aguedo Butawan, 45, of 2235 Villa Adelina, Pila, Laguna. Three other alleged members of the syndicate remain at-large and are being sought. They were identified as Romeo Briones, alias Vicente Gabato, an alleged Indonesian national, of JI Gambir Anon H Block, Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, Indonesia; Joseph Choo, a Malaysian national, of 51 JI Melaya Raya, Melaka, Malaysia; and Michael Goh, reportedly a Chinese national, of Allied Capital Resources Building, Ice House, Hong Kong.

According to Oscar Embido, head of the NBI’s Special Operations Division (SOD), a complaint was filed by victim Maria Aileen Abiva Sazon, chief executive officer of Felta Book Sales in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

In her complaint, Sazon said the suspects defrauded of her money by making her believe that she can make a $2-million loan from an international credit company.

She said that sometime last April, Butawan was introduced to her by a friend as an alleged broker for suspects Briones, Choo, and Goh, who operate a lending institution.

The NBI said Butawan managed to interest Sazon in a $2-million loan payable within 10 years at seven percent interest per annum.

After a series of negotiations, the "loan" was approved. The NBI said Butawan later introduced the victim to Choo and Goh. Butawan told the victim that Choo was allegedly the one who would authorize the release of the loan while Goh was the firm’s alleged credit investigator. – Mike Frialde