DAVAO CITY –— The operatives of the Philippine National Police and the Criminal Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on November 19, 2023 arrested three of the four suspected persons for syndicated estafa.
Bukidnon Police Provincial Commander Jovit Culaway, who used to monitor the cases as the then CIDG XI regional director told Newsline that at around 3:50 in the afternoon on Sunday, the joint elements of CIDG-AOCU, NCRPO-RID and Eastwood Police Station from Quezon City Police District implemented the Warrant of Arrest against Ivan Baja also known as Anthony Baja, as Stephen Aniñon Lopez, male, single, 41, resident of Sergio Osmeña, Poblacion 5, Midsayap, Cotabato; Lorna Fuentes Maquilan alias Karen Fuentes Lopez, female, single, 47 years old, and resident of Sergio Osmeña, Poblacion 5, Midsayap Cotabato; and 3. Menchie Malmis Torsiende alias Sherny Gonzalez Jimenez, female, 43 years old, married, and resident of Notre dame, Zone1 Sarmiento, Parang, Maguindanao Del Norte.
The three arrested individuals were charged for Syndicated Estafa under Art. 315. Par. 2 (A) of the Revised Penal Code in Relation to Section 1 of PD 1689. The warrants for their arrest were issued on November 13, 2023 by Hon. Jose Tanalgo Tabosares, Acting Presiding Judge of RTC Branch 24, Midsayap, North Cotabato.
The case is docketed as Criminal Case Number: 23-356 and is not bailable. The three (3) above-named accused were apprehended at Unit 12H, Olympic Heights Condominium Tower 2, Orchard Road, Eastwood City, Barangay Bagumbayan, Quezon City.
Culaway said, the case stemmed from the complainant lodged by Avelyn Melgarejo who claimed to be a college friend of accused Lorna Maquilan.
In her affidavit, Melgarejo claimed that she trusted Lorna Maquilan and invested more or less 10 million pesos after the latter promised her that her money is secured as the financier of the investment is Lorna’s sister, accused Luz Maquilan, who runs a business in Okada, Manila. Luz has remained at large and is confirmed by the apprehending officers to have already left the country.
Reports reaching the PNP also claimed that the three were involved in investment scheme which involved operated in Landasan, Parang, Maguindanao and that other victims in Landasan have also filed a case against Lorna Maquilan.
