The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested in Tanay, Rizal last April 26 three persons who allegedly misrepresented themselves as owners of a large tract of land which they reportedly sold to buyers for P350 to P500 per square meters.

In a statement, NBI Officer-in Charge Director Eric B. Distor identified those arrested as Wilson Vaflor Dadula, Rommel Amandoron Dadula and Mario Ordona Ruanto.

Distor said the suspects have been presented before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Rizal on charges of violations of Paragraphs 1(b) on misappropriation and 2(a) on falsely pretending to possess property under Article 315 (swindling or estafa) of the Revised Penal Code (RTC).

The complaint against the three suspects was filed by the heirs and legal owners of the property, the NBI said.

It said that complainants presented a Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) to prove their ownership. The complaint stated that Wilson was hired by the heirs’ father as caretaker of the land in 2000.

The complainants told the NBI that their father had filed a complaint to oust Wilson as caretaker in 2015. They said the barangay had issued a certificate to file action in court against Wilson.

When their father died, the complainants said they pursued the ouster of Wilson as caretaker but thing happened to their efforts.

Later, they said, they discovered that their property has already been occupied by about 90 families and the remaining portions of the land were being sold through an organization called "Alpha Omega World Development Marshall Program."

They also told the NBI that the organization collected a membership fee of P2,500 and all the members have the option to acquire a lot ranging from 100 to 300 square meters for P350 to P500 per square meters.

After payment, the complainants said a buyer-member will be issued a "Certificate of Occupancy" entitling them to possess and occupy portions of the landholdings.

The NBI said its Rizal District Office (RIZDO) agents worked undercover and were able to strike a deal for the purchase of 100 square meters of land from the suspects. It said that after a down payment of P50,000 was given to Wilson, NBI-RIZDO set up an entrapment operation.

Last April 26, the NBI said the three suspects were arrested after the payment of the supposed balance for the land.