By Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA
MANILA — Members of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Police Intelligence and Investigation Division (PIID) arrested a notorious swindler, who recently victimized an overseas Filipino worker (OFW).
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday, airport police Senior Inspector Nemencio Bawalan said the incident happened last Nov. 12 at Terminal 3, where suspect Juvy Zamora victimized newly-arrived OFW Gemalie Martin while she was waiting for her connecting flight to Tuguegarao.
Based on the police report, Zamora apparently befriended Martin. The two had snacks inside the airport. Martin withdrew PHP270,000 from a bank, and the suspect accompanied her to the ladies’ room.
When Martin got out from the ladies’ room, Zamora was no longer around. Her cash, along with her bag containing 10,000 HK dollars, four mobile phones, jewelry, passport, and other important documents, were also gone.
The victim has pinpointed a wrong suspect at first from a photo gallery shown by the police.
To ensure that she was the real suspect, operatives reviewed the CCTV footage from the restaurant, and further investigation led to the discovery that Juvy Zamora, who resides in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, was the real thief who victimized Martin.
Airport Police Department (APD) chief, Romeo Labador, ordered a group of operatives to go to Zamora’s residence.
“We were able to apprehend her Wednesday night,” Bawalan said.
Operatives were able to recover Martin’s documents and the other items. “However, we were only able to recover PHP65,000 cash,” he said.
Charges for violation of Articles 308 and 151 of the Revised Penal Code were already filed at the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office against Zamora, according to the operatives.
Currently, Zamora is at the detention cell of the APD headquarters.
