Warrant out for con artists behind P100-M ‘land scam’
Antonio Sy, one of the complainants, said Belita offered him to buy a seven-hectare property in Subic, Zambales shortly after she had befriended him sometime in 2001.
A Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) judge has issued an arrest warrant against a woman, her four children and nine of their associates who allegedly hoodwinked several businessmen of more than P100 million in spurious land deals.
In his order dated February 4, Quezon City RTC Branch 76 Judge Alexander Balut directed the arrest of suspect Delia Ledesma Belita, her daughters Ma. Cheryl, Genevieve and Florence Oldsen, and son Delben for syndicated estafa.
Also named in the arrest warrant were Salvador Ilarde Jr., Braulio Ledesma Jr., Rosita Estuart, Erlinda Gaerlan, Kathy Germentil, Ardeliza Lim, Elsa Rafanan, Perla Fernandez and Joseph Avacilla.
Balut did not allow the respondents to post bail.
A group of businessmen sought the help of the media on Tuesday for the immediate arrest of the suspects who, they said, belonged to a “land scam syndicate.”
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, counsel of the complainants, said Belita was the known “ring leader” of the gang which has victimized a number of businessmen in Metro Manila, Zambales, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro since 1998.
He said Belita and her co-accused would usually identify themselves as authorized agents of IBL Realty Development Corp. and Sta. Lucia Realty to entice their victims.
“The modus operandi of these people was to lure traders in acquiring vast raw lands in the provinces. But after their victims pay for the property, they will either pocket the money or put the property under their names,” Topacio said in a news conference in Quezon City.
“After that, they would resell the properties to other victims,” he added.
Antonio Sy, one of the complainants, said Belita offered him to buy a seven-hectare property in Subic, Zambales shortly after she had befriended him sometime in 2001.
Sy said after paying for the property, he was shocked when he was informed by the landowner that Belita only paid him P100, 000.
“I was really aghast. Not only did I lose the property. I also lost my money,” he lamented.
Topacio said when they sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), they learned that the suspects were subjects of other arrest warrants.
He said the information provided by Sy and the other complainants prompted the NBI to form a task force, headed by supervising agent Ronald Aguto, to go after the suspects.
“We call on all government authorities and the public to help us locate Belita and her cohorts. If we just let them (go) scot-free, they might victimize other people,” Sy appealed.
Topacio said the victims had put up P100,000 each as reward for the arrest of Belita and her four children. They also offered P50,000 each for any information that may lead to the arrest of the other suspects.
By Marlon Ramos - Philippine Daily Inquirer
A Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) judge has issued an arrest warrant against a woman, her four children and nine of their associates who allegedly hoodwinked several businessmen of more than P100 million in spurious land deals.
In his order dated February 4, Quezon City RTC Branch 76 Judge Alexander Balut directed the arrest of suspect Delia Ledesma Belita, her daughters Ma. Cheryl, Genevieve and Florence Oldsen, and son Delben for syndicated estafa.
Also named in the arrest warrant were Salvador Ilarde Jr., Braulio Ledesma Jr., Rosita Estuart, Erlinda Gaerlan, Kathy Germentil, Ardeliza Lim, Elsa Rafanan, Perla Fernandez and Joseph Avacilla.
Balut did not allow the respondents to post bail.
A group of businessmen sought the help of the media on Tuesday for the immediate arrest of the suspects who, they said, belonged to a “land scam syndicate.”
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, counsel of the complainants, said Belita was the known “ring leader” of the gang which has victimized a number of businessmen in Metro Manila, Zambales, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro since 1998.
He said Belita and her co-accused would usually identify themselves as authorized agents of IBL Realty Development Corp. and Sta. Lucia Realty to entice their victims.
“The modus operandi of these people was to lure traders in acquiring vast raw lands in the provinces. But after their victims pay for the property, they will either pocket the money or put the property under their names,” Topacio said in a news conference in Quezon City.
“After that, they would resell the properties to other victims,” he added.
Antonio Sy, one of the complainants, said Belita offered him to buy a seven-hectare property in Subic, Zambales shortly after she had befriended him sometime in 2001.
Sy said after paying for the property, he was shocked when he was informed by the landowner that Belita only paid him P100, 000.
“I was really aghast. Not only did I lose the property. I also lost my money,” he lamented.
Topacio said when they sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), they learned that the suspects were subjects of other arrest warrants.
He said the information provided by Sy and the other complainants prompted the NBI to form a task force, headed by supervising agent Ronald Aguto, to go after the suspects.
“We call on all government authorities and the public to help us locate Belita and her cohorts. If we just let them (go) scot-free, they might victimize other people,” Sy appealed.
Topacio said the victims had put up P100,000 each as reward for the arrest of Belita and her four children. They also offered P50,000 each for any information that may lead to the arrest of the other suspects.
By Marlon Ramos - Philippine Daily Inquirer
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
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