BACOLOD CITY - A couple, who went into hiding after being tagged in a multi-million-peso online scam was arrested for syndicated estafa in Barangay Alangilan, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental on Sunday.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Negros Oriental, along with other local police units, served on Sunday the arrest warrants against Elmer Tinambacan, 36; and his wife Mary Rhonaline Tinambacan, 34, both residents of Malolos, Bulacan.
The warrants for syndicated estafa with no bail were issued by Judge Marie Yvette Deldel Go of Regional Trial Court (RTC)-Branch 37 in Iloilo City.
Lt. Col. Ariel Huesca, head of CIDG-Negros Oriental, said the couple was temporarily staying with Elmer’s father Sta. Catalina.
Huesca said the couple had reportedly victimized many individuals nationwide.
Elmer had two other warrants for estafa. The first warrant with no bail was issued by Judge Cicero Jandoc of RTC Branch 29 in Nueva Vizcaya, and the other warrant was issued by the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 1 in Iloilo City, with P3,000 bail for his provisional liberty, a police report said.
During their arrest, police recovered from Elmer a .40-caliber pistol, two short magazines, 54 rounds of ammunition, and other documents. He will be facing charges for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.
Meanwhile, authorities also arrested Elmer’s father Euglor Tinambacan Sr., 58, for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Law.
He voluntarily surrendered a .45 caliber pistol, a steel magazine, 24 rounds live ammunition, a homemade shotgun, two magazines, 10 rounds of ammunition for shotgun, and a sling bag.