3 NABBED OVER REAL ESTATE SCAM IN ZAMBALES

BY KEVIN GALANG

SAN NARCISO, Zambales — Three persons were arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) over alleged violations of the Revised Penal Code involving estafa and fraudulent real estate transactions.

According to CIDG Regional Field Unit 3 chief Col. Grant Gollod,  the operation was carried out by the CIDG Olongapo City Field Unit inside the Triple Diamond Realty Development office in Bgy. Simminublan, San Narciso, Zambales.

Arrested were alias “Weng,” 54; alias “Van,” 52; and alias “Chev,” 23, all residents of Zambales.

The operation stemmed from a complaint from San Fernando City, Pampanga accusing the suspects of demanding money in connection with the supposed sale of developing real estate properties in Zambales.

According to investigators, the suspects allegedly misrepresented themselves as legitimate real estate sellers and developers despite lacking registration and license from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). 

The complainant claimed he paid around P510,000 for a transaction involving a 49,921-square-meter property or nearly five hectares in Bgy. Sindol, San Felipe, Zambales, and was issued only a contract to sell.

Seized during the entrapment were the marked and boodle money and official receipts from Triple Diamond Realty Development, including one issued to the complainant, and two mobile phones  believed to have been used in the alleged scheme.

The CIDG said background checks revealed that alias “Van” had previously been arrested in 2023 for estafa by virtue of a warrant issued by a court in Olongapo City.

Meanwhile, alias “Weng” reportedly has an outstanding warrant of arrest for violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22 issued by a Parañaque court in 2023.

The case is also linked to an earlier investigation file dated February 4, 2026, involving allegations of illegal selling and development of house-and-lot properties in Zambales without proper authority from DHSUD.

The suspects were brought to the CIDG Olongapo City Field Unit for documentation and proper disposition.