ARRESTED FOR ESTAFA. Authorities arrest outgoing Surigao del Sur Vice Gov. Librado Navarro (center) and four others Thursday (June 9, 2022) in Poblacion Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Librado and the other suspects are facing charges for syndicated estafa and violation of Republic Act 8799 or the Securities Regulations Code. (Photo courtesy of PRO-13)
BUTUAN CITY – Outgoing Surigao del Sur Vice Gov. Librado Navarro and four others were arrested Thursday for investment scam charges, a police official said.
Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr, the Police Regional Office-Caraga Region director, said the four arrested were Letecia Navarro, 55, of Marihatag, Surigao del Sur; Estev Cirene Macheca, 33, of Lianga, Surigao del Sur; Suad Asad Fayyad, 24, and Lafi Asad Fayyad, 25, both of Malate, Manila.
The suspects were arrested in an operation by the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office in Barangay Poblacion of Lianga town.
Navarro, 64, together with Letecia and Macheca are respondents to an arrest warrant dated June 7, 2022, issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 28 in Lianga town for charges of syndicated estafa.
The vice governor, along with the Fayyads, also has standing arrest warrants for two counts of charges for violation of Republic Act 8799, or the Securities Regulations Code.
The arrest warrants were issued on June 7, 2022, by the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental.
On March 17 this year, the vice governor was also arrested by authorities for two cases of estafa.
Librado ran for mayor in Bislig City in the May 9 elections but lost.
"Again, I remind the public not to be enticed by people or businesses that promise big interests. Those who offer impossible returns are frauds,” Caramat said in a statement. (PNA)
