By Jennifer P. Rendon
A woman allegedly involved in questionable land dealings was arrested in a police entrapment operation late morning of May 27, 2022 in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
The suspect, 24-year-old Melvelyn Daradar of Barangay Dayao, Roxas City, Capiz, was collared inside a mall on B. Aquino Avenue after receiving P25,000 from her client.
Recovered from her possession were an acknowledgement receipt under the name Mariyah Evelyn Daradar, a fake document from JL Donasco Realty Services, fake money used in the entrapment, and P2,000 marked money.
Daradar, who was using the name Mariyah Evelyn Daradar, represented herself as an employee of JB Donasco Realty Services and an engineer working for the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
But JB Donasco Realty Services, through its co-owner Socorro Donasco, issued a certification claiming that Daradar is no longer connected with the firm since April 22, 2022.
Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Iloilo Field Unit, together with members of the 602nd Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion and the Iloilo City Police Station 5, planned the suspect’s arrest after receiving two formal complaints.
Major Jess Baylon, CIDG-iloilo City chief, said Daradar had been selling a 200-square meter lot in Guimaras province for P120,000.
After getting an initial payment, the suspect could no longer be contacted.
Baylon said there were also no documents to support the lot sale.
Aside from the two complainants, there were other persons who claimed over social media that they, too, fell victims to such a scam.
Daradar did not give a statement following her arrest but told police that she would answer the allegations against her.
Baylon said an inquest case was filed against her on Friday for violation of Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code (estafa/swindling) and Article 172, RPC (Falsification of private document by any person).
