Swindling scheme suspect arrested

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 39-year-old woman was arrested in La Paz, Iloilo City for an alleged budol-budol or swindling operation.

Lunalyn de Pedro, 39, a resident of Barangay Gustilo, La Paz, was arrested at Huervana village around 11:30 a.m. on Feb 3, 2023.

Members of the Iloilo City Mobile Force Company served to de Pedro an arrest warrant for violation of Republic Act 8484 (Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998) docketed as Criminal Case No. DU-37183.

Judge Joe Noel Codero Lawas of the Regional Trial Court Branch 84 in Mandaue City, Cebu, issued the warrant on Jan. 20, 2023.

No bail was recommended for her temporary liberty.

Captain Roque Gimeno III, ICMFC deputy commander for operations, said de Pedro was accused of duping elderly women by pretending to help them with their ATM withdrawals.

It was believed that de Pedro was part of a group that operates in other parts of the country.

Lately, she was monitored to be working as a personal caregiver in Batangas.

“Again, she used that as a front in her budol-budol scam,” Gimeno said.

Several days ago, ICMFC operatives received reports that de Pedro will be going home on Feb 2 to celebrate her birthday on Feb 4.

Operatives finally got wind of her whereabouts on Friday.

Based on the PNP e-warrant system, an arrest warrant for theft was also issued against her in Oton, Iloilo.

Meanwhile, police records indicated that de Pedro was also arrested in Huervana Street, La Paz on Dec. 23, 2020.

Her cases were for violation of RA 8484 docketed as Criminal Case No. R-CEB-19-08413-CR and theft in CC No. M-CEB-19-04458-CR and 4349.