By Jeffrey Damicog
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a suspected swindler during an entrapment operation in Manila over an investment scam.
NBI Director Dante Gierran identified the suspect as Bernadette Bernabe Badinas who was arrested last Oct. 29 at a mall in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
Following her arrest, Badinas has been charged before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office for estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code.
Badinas was arrested by operatives of the NBI’s Anti-Graft Division (NBI-AGD) based on the separate complaints of two complainants.
One of the complainants recounted investing P800,000 to the alleged financing business of the suspect after being convinced getting large returns.
However, the complainant began to doubt the suspect after the two checks Badinas issued, one worth P45,000 and P85,000, bounced.
Because of this, the complainant sought the help of the NBI in having Badinas arrested.
The NBI set the entrapment where Badinas was promised to get an additional P30,000 investment from the complainant.
During the entrapment, Badinas was caught red-handed with the marked money.
Following the suspect’s arrest, Gierran said 30 more complainants appeared at the NBI and filed complaints against Badinas.