Swindling syndicate busted in Batangas

A big-time swindling syndicate was believed busted with the arrest of five of its members who posed as real estate brokers and exporters to sweet-talk their victims, in a sting operation in Batangas City the other day.

Nabbed by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) were Miriam Dusaran, 37; Nicolas Obana, 40; Manuel Fernandez, 30; Ronald Valencia, 42; and Dexter Catoto, 25.

Chief Superintendent Nestorio Gualberto, CIDG director, said the five suspects were arrested in the house of businesswoman Marilou Santos whom they were trying to convince to purchase P5 million worth of fake food preservatives.

The syndicate members, Gualberto said, initially introduce themselves as real estate brokers, offering low prices for non-existent lots and residences supposedly in posh subdivisions.

Once entertained, they would cajole a prospective victim into partnering with them and investing in the food preservative business. — Jaime Laude