Police arrest ‘Estafa Queen’ in Mandaue court

A woman whom police described as “Estafa Queen” was arrested by police while attending a court hearing in Mandaue City yesterday morning.

Gina Lou Ong, 26, a resident of Lawaan I, Talisay City, was arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) while attending a hearing of her estafa case at the sala of Regional Trial Court Judge Marilyn Yap.

A warrant issued by Judge Oscar Andrino of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court was used in the arrest.

At least seven complainants appeared at the CIDG-7 office to lodge a complaint against Ong.

After the arrest, Ong was brought to the agency’s office in Camp Sotero, Cabahug in Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City. She declined media interviews.

The court recommended P60,000 for her temporary liberty.

A complainant from barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, alleged that Ong failed to pay her P2.5 million for the jewelry that she bought from her in 2003.

Another female complainant said Ong bought jewelry from her worth P900,000.

The woman said she later discovered that the check had no sufficient funds./CORRESPONDENTS CHITO O. ARAGON AND RHEA RUTH V. ROSELL