Trader nabbed for 150 counts of estafa

A 51-year-old trader with some 150 counts of estafa to his name perpetrated in Valenzuela City alone was collared by local police in an operation at a Chinese fastfood joint the other day in Sta. Cruz, Manila, police said yesterday.

SPO3 Manolito Manalo, Valenzuela Police Warrant and Subpoena Section chief, said suspect Alex Poa y Ng, 51, businessman, of Barangay San Agustin, Malabon City was collared by his team that included SPO2 Rajean Mirando and PO3 Marcial Galang at the Chowking Restaurant on Recto corner Rizal Avenues in Manila.

Poa was arrested on the strength of several arrest warrants issued by several courts that included Regional Trial Court Branch 75 Judge Trinidad Dabay (15 counts); Branch 172 Judge Floro Alejo (eight counts); Branch 171 Judge Maria Nena Santos (15 counts); Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 81 Judge Cacilyn Burgos-Villavert (57 counts) and MTC Branch 82 Judge Mateo Altarejos (55 counts), all of Valenzuela.

The warrants were served on complaint of Francis Chua, processed food manufacturer of FPC Compound in Barangay Dalandanan, Valenzuela City.

Chua told probers Poa had accumulated debts worth some P1.5 million since 2003.

Poa had allegedly gone into hiding and could not be found in his address in Malabon.

Poa offered no resistance when nabbed by Manalo’s team and is now held at the Valenzuela City Jail after failing to post the recommended bail of P1.5 million.