STA. ANA, Cagayan – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has busted a syndicate selling fake land titles after five members were arrested in an entrapment operation here recently.
The suspects were identified as Billy Ibarra Sistoza, 64, the leader of the group; Reynaldo Martinez Delelis, Leilanie Torida Mirafuente, Orlando Penaflor Alariao, and Jun dela Rosa Tablac.
Investigation showed that Sistoza identified himself as Heriberto Remudaro and sold four parcels of land under his name for P6.5 million to the victim Cyrelle Lozada.
The victim paid P1.5 million as initial payment for the land.
Lozada verified his Deed of Registration with the Land Registration Authority (LRA). However, he found out that the document was fake as Remudaro, the person in the title, has died and someone already owns the land he had bought.
The victim immediately reported the matter to the NBI which found out the modus operandi of Sistoza's group.
Sistoza was arrested in 2018 for using selling parcels of land in the region under the name of Remudaro for P4.5 million. He had also been arrested before for selling fake gold bars in this province and neighboring towns.
The suspects are now in the custody of NBI Region 2 and facing charges for violating Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Presidential Decree 1689 or Syndicated Estafa.
NBI Region 2 Director Gelacio Bongngat has advised the public to be careful in any transaction as there are various types of scams rampant in the region.
He also said that he has ordered his men to investigate how the group was able to falsify legal documents and will determine other possible cases to be filed against them.