30 ‘mango tree’ scam victims file raps

MANILA, Philippines - At least 30 persons, mostly overseas workers, have filed charges against two officials of a firm who allegedly swindled them of at least P20 million by convincing them to invest in a mango plantation, police said yesterday.

Josefina Pillarina, 63, and Wilma Siazon, 56, were arrested for estafa on June 10 based on an arrest warrant issued by Pasig Regional Trial Court Judge Nicanor Manalo.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel urged the suspects’other victims to file charges.

EPD intelligence chief Superintendent Remus Medina said that five years ago, the two women convinced the victims to invest P33,290 per mango tree, for which they would get 70 percent of the harvest after five years.

The overseas workers decided to file charges after they failed to receive any returns on their investment.