Probe bureau nabs member of swindling syndicate

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) nabbed a member of a swindling syndicate during an entrapment operation on Friday following the complaint from one of the victims.

Lawyer Patricio Bernales, NBI Acting Assistant Regional Director, identified the suspect as Reynaldo L. Quimada, who was arrested inside a high-end coffee shop in a mall in Cagayan de Oro.

The NBI said that Quimada presented to the would-be victims that he has the authority to transact in behalf of parcels of land owned by another person.

Lawyer Chemene Nacua, agent on case, said they conducted the entrapment operation after they got a complaint against Quimada.

The victim said Quimada allegedly demanded money in addition to the P1.5 million that she gave during their previous transactions for a parcel of land.

Nacua said swindling and estafa charges have been filed against Quimada and two other suspects identified as Rejellaine Vidad and Jack Rameni who are both at large.

The NBI also filed charges of direct assault resisting arrest against Quimada after he tried to evade arrest that resulted in a 10-minute commotion.

Quimada even shouted for help, saying “Madam tabang! Tabang! Amang, tabang! Ali mo!”

Confiscated from Quimada’s possession was a certification dated July 30, 2012 citing that the Vidad received three checks amounting to P1.4 million and is entitled to P810.000.

Quimada denied the accusation, saying that their transaction is legal.

He claimed that within this week, all the titles of the land will be released.

The victim, who requested anonymity, told reporters that she sought the help of authorities for fear that Quimada might harm her after demanding P2.4 million cash from her.

She said she just came home from another country and plans to put up a business.

She later met Vidad who introduced her to Quimada.

According to her, she gave P750,000 to Quimada during their first transaction to finance the titling, payment of taxes of the land and to demolish the houses of the squatters.

On the second time, she said Quimada demanded again the amount of P780,000 for the same purpose, which she gave without any apprehension.

She said the amount was the initial expenses for the four parcels of land that she bought, as offered by the suspects. These include a one-hectare land at Fil-Estate; one hectare in Pinikitan; 1,000 square meter in Barangay Camaman-an and 5,000 square meter in J.R. Borja Extension.

“Wala gyud ko nagtuo nga giilad ra ko nila kay gipaatubang man nila sa ako ang tag-iya sa mga yuta nga si Perlita Llera Merida,” she said.

However, based on the document gathered by the NBI, the owner of the property is Nicolas Capistrano and Cecilia Castañeda, as decided by the Office of the President in OP case no. 07-B069 (Department of Environment and Natural Resources case no. 5915 on November 17, 2008).

“Gusto nako nga dili na siya (Quimada) makagawas aron dili na siya makabiktima pa og lain,” the victim said.

Nacua said he is hoping that the prosecutor would level up the case into syndicated estafa from swindling/estafa, which is non-bailable, so that the suspect could not post bail.

Quimada is now temporarily detained at the NBI’s mini-cell.