Ex-councilor hunted; eight cohorts in invest scam fall

By Mar Supnad

CAMP FLORENDO, La Union — A former municipal councilor in Pangasinan is now being hunted by police after being tagged as the alleged mastermind of a large-scale investment scam, following the arrest of eight members of the group in Urdaneta City recently.

Chief Superintendent Romulo E. Sapitula, Police Regional Office 1  regional director, said the group of Renato Gabiola, a former councilor of Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, and his live-in partner, Sharmaine Junio Castillo, alias “Shamee,” of Bayambang is involved in an organized investment scam.

Sapitula said the latest victim of the syndicate that recruits investor-victims through electronic modes (Facebook) was C&G Dry Goods in Barangay Camantiles, Urdaneta City.

He said that the group offers targeted investors a large interest per week if they invest money in the company without doing any physical service. The scammers also promise that the capital deposited by the investors will be a “risk-free” and will be returned immediately after 7 to 10 days upon demand.

But Sapitula said after tacitly monitoring active transactions online last July 24, police arrested eight women involved in the organized investment scam.

He identified them as Hannah Christina E. Marquez, Mhay Ann V. Lanuza, Aurelia N. Marquez, Kristine Coleen Ada Martin, Haydie Marie E. Ramos, Janice E. Dalusong, Richelle B. Pangilinan, and Camille Cyre Dela Cruz, all of legal ages.

“Based on the investigation conducted, the mastermind of said organized investment scam were Renato Gabiola, a former municipal councilor of Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan and his live-in partner, Sharmaine Junio Castillo, a.k.a. “Shamee” of Bayambang, Pangasinan. Both masterminds are at large and nowhere to be found,’’ Sapitula said.