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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Police hunting three suspects accused of large scale estafa in Ormoc City

Police hunting three suspects accused of large scale estafa in Ormoc City

Published Jun 14, 2023 10:58 am
CEBU CITY – Police are on the lookout for three individuals who are facing charges for large-cale estafa. Police Lt. Col. Arwinm Tadeo, officer-in-charge of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Eastern Visayas (CIDG-8), said in a virtual press briefing on Wednesday, June 14, that efforts to arrest Ormoc City-based Michelle Lim Go-Chu and couple Lorenzo and Jerlyn Baltonado have been futile. “Our personnel have tried to serve warrants of arrest against the three accused but they could not be located in their residences,” said Tadeo. “We are asking the public that if they have information about the whereabouts of three accused, please report to us immediately,” added Tadeo. The complainant, Cebuano businessman Kaiser Tan, is also offering a cash reward of P1.5 million to anyone who could provide information that would lead to the arrest of the accused. Tan accused the three of defrauding him of almost P200 million in an alleged investment scam. “Tan trusted the accused because Go-Chu is a chief finance officer of a motor company in Ormoc and the Baltonado couple are known contractors in Leyte,” said Francisco Amit Jr., legal counsel of Tan. Amit said the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 29 in Toledo City issued an arrest warrant against Gu-Chu and the Baltonado couple last May 13. Last Feb. 14, the warrant against Go-Chu was lifted after her motion for reinvestigation was granted by the court. The court then ordered the Toledo City Prosecutor’s Office to conduct a reinvestigation. “After the reinvestigation, it was really found that there was really probable cause and that’s why an arrest warrant was issued against Go-Chu last May 15 with no bail recommended,” said Amit. Tadeo said a hold departure order has been issued against the accused. “Upon checking with the Bureau of Immigration, they are still in the country,” Tadeo said. Tadeo added that the CIDG-8 is “consolidating a sensible amount of information and using our detective efforts so we could zero in on the location of the accused.” He added that the CIDG-8 has already coordinated with other law enforcement units to expedite the arrest of the accused. “There is already an electronic warrant so all police units can already access that,” Tadeo said.

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Large-scale estafa Ormoc City PNP-CIDG Eastern Visayas
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