The Philippine National Police Region 4 has urged the victims of fake land titles in Tagaytay and Batangas to come out following the arrest of a former DENR employee and his cohorts involved in the scam.
Chief Supt. Edward Carranza, Police Regional Office 4 chief, said the victims should coordinate with the Tagaytay City Police to file cases against those involved in selling fake titles in the region.
Authorities earlier arrested the alleged mastermind Gerardo Trinidad, former employee of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; his cohorts Aireen Tan, Rochel Alcantara, Michael Sarabosing, and William Pineda.
They are now facing charges of large- scale estafa and falsification of public documents before the Tagaytay City Regional Trial Court.
Supt. Elmer Decena, Tagaytay City Police chief, said the five were arrested based on the complaint filed by Japanese investor Yoshihisa Tsujimoto and its Filipino business partner Ester Mariano Rosales.
The two found out about the scheme of the suspects when they verified with the Land Registration Authority and found out that the titles of the lands being sold to them were fake.
The victims have already shelled out P80 million as advance payment to the suspects. When the suspects tried to collect the P70-million balance, the victims complained to the police which eventually conducted an entrapment operation in a coffee shop in Tagaytay.
Recovered from the suspect were two luxury cars and several fake land titles.
Police later learned that the suspects are also facing other charges in different places.
Senior Supt. Willian Segun, Cavite Police Provincial director, lauded the operating team led by Decena for a “job well done.”