By Gerome Dalipe IV
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Region 6 has filed criminal charges before the Office of the City Prosecutor against two women who posed as employees of a real estate firm and collected money from the buyers.
The police filed the complaints against Melvelyn Marjie Games and Lulu Chavez before the prosecutor’s office for violation of Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code (estafa/swindling), Art. 172 of Revised Penal Code (Falsification of Private Documents by any person) and Republic Act 9646, or Real Estate Service Act of the Philippines
The duo were arrested in an entrapment by the CIDG-6 operatives in the act of receiving the payment for the sale of a parcel of lots on Rizal Ortiz St. in Brgy. Ortiz, Iloilo City on December 5, 2023.
The respondents represented themselves as employees of Gamez Realty and allegedly collected payment from the lot buyers.
Games represented herself as an employee of Gamez Realty and collected the payment of money from the complainants who purchased lots using documents of Gamez Realty in Guimaras. Chavez, on the other hand, posed as secretary of Gamez.
However, Fernando Joseph Soriano, the Gamez Realty owner, issued a certification stating that Games and Chavez are no longer connected with his company since May 11, 2023.
Patrolwoman Kay Becida, in his affidavit, said they carried out the entrapment after Merlinda Elario sought their assistance relative to the dubious sale of a parcel of lot comprised of 600 square meters worth P280,000 in Brgy. San Enrique in San Lorenzo town in Guimaras.
Becida, who acted as Elario’s daughter, said the complainants and the respondents met in a building on Ortiz Street last Dec. 4, 2023, supposedly for the payment of the lot.
Becida said that when the suspects received the entrapment money, she immediately notified her backup officers who arrested the suspects.
The police confiscated from the suspects the entrapment money and several acknowledgment receipts.
