DOJ orders filing of charges vs group in multi-million land scam

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez on Tuesday approved the filing of syndicated estafa charges against the leader and members of a group allegedly involved in a multi-million land scam that victimized a number of businessmen. In a nine-page resolution, the Department of Justice found probable cause to indict Delia Belita and her 13 other co-accused for multiple count of syndicated estafa, a non-bailable offense, before different courts. Aside from Belita, also charged were her two daughters Genevieve Belita and Maria Cheryl Dava; Salvador Ilarde Jr; Braulio Ledesma Jr; Florence Olsen; Kathy Germentil; Rosie Estuart; Elsa Rafanan; Erlinda Gaerlan; Perla Fernandez; Delben “Noy” Belita; and Joseph Avecilla. The respondents, who are still at large, are allegedly members of a syndicate whose modus operandi included enticing businessmen into buying large tracts of raw land in the provinces. Gonzalez modified the findings of State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera of simple estafa to syndicated estafa after establishing the conspiracy among the accused. The victims - Antonio Sy, Maria Pineda and Sonia C. Benero – have offered a reward of P100,000.00 for the arrest of Belita and her two children, and P50, 000 for the other accused. Sy, president of Spencer Realty and Development Corp., said he lost close to P100 million to Belita’s group. The complainants alleged that the accused claimed to be agents of several landowners in Metro Manila and Zambales and collected substantial amounts of money from them using the company name IBL Realty Development Corp. Belita and the group, however, failed to transfer titles over the property to the complainants. The complaint was endorsed to the DOJ by then Director Elfren L. Meneses Jr, head of the National Bureau of Investigation's Anti Fraud Division. Belita has a standing arrest warrants from the sala of Quezon City regional trial court Judges Vivencio Baclig of Branch 77; Alexander Balut of Branch 76; Charito Gonzales of Branch 80; Ma. Theresa Dela Torre-Yadao of Branch 81; and Leah Domingo-Regala of Branch 226. - GMANews.TV