FOUR women allegedly involved in the illegal sale of “raw lots” were arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-Semro) during an entrapment operation at their office in Tigatto, Buhangin.
The suspects, who are reportedly employees of a subdivision developer, were presented to the media following the sting operation on June 20, 2025.
According to NBI-Davao spokesperson Elias Leaño, the individuals failed to show any legal documents such as a Certificate of Registration or a License to Sell, requirements that would legally allow them to market and sell real estate.
“These individuals conducted transactions without the proper documents, confirming the illegal nature of their operations,” Leaño said in a mix-language.
The operation stemmed from complaints filed by three victims who personally went to the NBI office to report the scam.
Authorities estimate that over 100 individuals may have been duped since the illegal transactions began as early as 2019.
The office where the suspects were apprehended posed as a marketing consultancy firm and claimed to be selling cosmetics, an apparent front for their illicit real estate dealings.
Meanwhile, NBI-Semro is currently investigating the possible masterminds behind the illegal subdivision scheme.
According to the investigation agency, charges for estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code and violations of Presidential Decree No. 957 (Subdivision and Condominium Buyers’ Protective Decree) have been filed against the arrested individuals.
This operation follows a similar case in March 2025, when two women were also arrested by NBI-Semro for selling fake raw lots through Facebook. Those suspects allegedly posed as licensed brokers and collected large sums of money from buyers without delivering any legitimate property.
Authorities told Davao media that the fraudulent transactions reportedly exceeded P1 million in total, and even the rightful property owner filed a complaint after discovering their land was being falsely marketed.