Ex-beauty queen arrested for estafa

Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 1998 Jewel May Lobaton was apprehended in Laoag City over her alleged involvement in an investment scam.

According to John Consulta's report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, Lobaton was arrested by members of the Batangas Provincial Police Office (PPO) and the Laoag City Police in a hotel due to estafa charges.

“Nagpapakilala siyang producer, talent agency...nagsasabi rin siya po na may party-list but she's actually not represented by any. Ginagamit nga niya ang apelyido ng dati niyang kinakasamang politician para maniwala itong mga would-be victims niya sa kanyang pangs-scam,” Batangas PPO director Police Colonel Pedro Soliba said. 
 
(She introduces herself as the producer of a talent agency. She would also say she has links to a party-list group, but she's actually not represented by any. She also uses the surname of her ex-husband who is a politician to lure her would-be victims.)
 
Soliba said Lobaton allegedly defrauded the victims, which included government officials, of over P50 million.

“More than 10 siguro? Basta marami. Karamihan mga politicians pa at kanilang mga kamag-anak,” he added. 

(She had already victimized more than 10. Many of them are politicians and their relatives.)

Lobaton declined to give a statement following her arrest. — Sundy Locus/VBL, GMA News