LP mayoral bet in Las Piñas nabbed for estafa

The mayoral candidate of the Liberal Party in Las Piñas city has been arrested over alleged estafa (fraud) charges, a police official said Friday. Chief inspector Leoncio Senense, chief of the Southern police district's intelligence division, told GMANews.TV that candidate Felix Sinajon was nabbed on Thursday noon, together with his aide Gloria Guerrero, in an entrapment operation in a noodle house in barangay Talon 1, Las Piñas. They were arrested based on the syndicated estafa charges filed against them by some 30 private complainants who claimed that Sinajon and his cohorts have been selling privilege cards bearing logos of several government offices and offering various privileges and discounts. The cards included the logos of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Commission on Human Rights, Philippine National Police, Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Interior and Local Government, and National Press Club. Among the privileges allegedly being offered were discounts on hospital bills and public transport fares. Sinojon’s group was allegedly working under Filipino Alliance Movement–Support Group that has been in operation for about five years, Senense said. Their cases have been elevated to the Las Piñas city prosecutor’s office. In a separate interview, prosecutor Allan Areolo said the cases was brought to his office about 4 p.m. Friday and are being studied. Meanwhile, LP campaign manager Florencio Abad told GMANews.TV that they will "find out if there is a basis for the charge or if it is plainly harassment from [Sen. Manuel] Villar camp." Villar of the Nacionalista Party is the staunchest rival of LP's standard bearer Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. "If it is plain harassment, we will extend to him all the legal support he needs," Abad added. GMANews.TV has yet to receive the NP camp’s reaction on the incident as of posting time. —Aie Balagtas See and Johanna Camille Sisante/JV, GMANews.TV