2 nabbed for Ondoy housing scam

MANILA, Philippines - Two of at least three suspected members of a syndicate preying on Quezon City residents who lost their homes due to tropical storm “Ondoy” were arrested in an entrapment operation yesterday by the Quezon City police.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego identified the arrested suspects as Edna Villanueva, 31, housewife; and Arturo Torralba, 45, construction worker, both residents of Salvador Compound in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal.

A third suspect, identified as “George Duran,” in his late 40s, remains at large. Torralba told The STAR in his cell at the Police Station 10 on EDSA in Kamuning, that Duran claimed he was “the right hand man of a top ranking (NHA) official.” 

When asked how he knew Duran was a real employee of the NHA, Torralba told The STAR that Duran wears an NHA ID and talked with him several times just outside the NHA compound at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

At least 10 residents of Luzon Avenue in Old Balara, who lost their homes during the flood, yesterday trooped to the police station to file their complaint.

The victims alleged that the suspects convinced them to pay various amounts to own a 20-square meter unit in a socialized housing project in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Victims July Arediano, May Ann Gail Soriano, Medina Rasquid, Anita Soriano, Gem Perdido, Lily Abao, and Roel Abangan, all of Luzon Avenue, Old Balara, Quezon City; Marina Arediano and Rosenda Quimpano, both of Barangay Pasong Tamo, filed their complaint earlier while Sonia Garcia, 43, lodged hers only yesterday.

Charges of syndicated estafa are being readied against the suspects before the city prosecutors’ office.