1 month ago
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ILOILO CITY — A gubernatorial candidate in Guimaras was arrested by the authorities on Tuesday over charges of swindling or estafa.
The suspect, identified as Margarita Cacho, a resident of Barangay Sabang, Sibunag, Guimaras, was arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Detection Group upon the supervision of the Office of the President.
ARRESTED CANDIDATE Mugshot of Guimaras gubernatorial candidate Margarita Cacho, who was arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by elements of Criminal Investigation Detection Group, upon the supervision of the Office of the President for alleged swindling and estafa. PHOTO BY RJAY ZURIAGA CASTOR
Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky said Cacho's arrest stemmed from a complaint filed by an individual whom she allegedly promised to secure a project for a Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center and an emission testing center from the Department of Transportation in exchange for P1 million.
The complainant had reportedly sent P400,000 to Cacho in September 2024, but she later demanded full payment.
Wanky also revealed that the suspect has other victims of her modus projecting herself as connected to the government and her being a relative of the President's wife, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
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The PRO-6 confirmed that upon their initial investigation, the gubernatorial aspirant is a relative of the first family.
"This is no ordinary crime, as the suspect's modus operandi involves securing government contracts by falsely promising would-be contractors or individuals dealing with the government that she can have their contracts approved," he said in a press conference on Wednesday.
Cacho's secretary, 48-year-old Cayetano Leal, a resident of Barangay Misi, Lambunao, Iloilo, was also apprehended in the entrapment.
During the operation, law enforcement officials also arrested two personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act in relation to the gun ban of the Commission on Elections.
Wanky said the uniformed personnel were acting as bodyguards for Cacho, but they failed to provide proof of their legitimacy during the operation.
The arrested PCG personnel were identified as Apprentice Seaman Marwin Parpan from Dipolog City and Seaman Second Class Rico Maylan from Siaton, Negros Oriental.
During the operation, authorities recovered P400,000 in boodle money, including a P500 marked bill, believed to have been part of the entrapment scheme.
They also seized an Armscor.45 caliber pistol with a loaded magazine containing seven bullets, a 1911.45 caliber pistol with seven bullets, nine 9mm ammunition, eight additional.45 caliber bullets, two holsters and two mobile phones.
The PRO-6 filed a case of swindling against Cacho and Leal before the Office of the Guimaras Provincial Prosecutor on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the two PCG personnel remain under police custody pending further legal proceedings.
Wanky believes there may be more victims of the suspect's scheme. He encourages them to come forward to file complaints to strengthen the case filed against her.
