‘Investment scam’ suspect nabbed anew

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – A man facing estafa charges was arrested again by police operatives at Barangay 9, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental yesterday.

Police identified the suspect as Joel Famoso, 52, of Barangay Mandalagan here.

Joint operatives of Provincial Intelligence Unit and Kabankalan City Police Station served a warrant issued by Judge Dorothy Montejo of Regional Trial Court Branch 11 in Panabo City against Famoso.

Police also recovered from him a .45-caliber pistol, a magazine, six live ammunition, a laptop, iPad, and an Apple Macbook computer.

Famoso was arrested in an entrapment operation last month, along with eight others at Barangay Zone 2, Cadiz City.

Police said he was allegedly using fake identities to recruit individuals to invest in their organization, with an assurance of a 50 percent increase in the invested fund within a month.

He went into hiding in the province for about a year now and introduced himself as a pastor and preached at different ministries.

Sometime in 2018, Famoso was reportedly involved in a large investment scam which victimized thousands of people from South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sarangani Province.

He will be charged for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.