Dumaguete city: Personnel of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) arrested four alleged members of a syndicate for estafa and falsification of public documents during an entrapment operation on Thursday in this capital.

According to Philippines News Agency, Executive M/Sgt. Aurelio Bodo, chief of the Highway Patrol Team-Negros Oriental, reported that three men and a woman were apprehended at approximately 7:50 a.m. at San Jose Extension, Barangay Taclobo. The suspects, identified only by their aliases, are Herl Peter, 44; Ralph, 27; John, 26; and Leeda, 25, all residents of Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.

Bodo indicated that the investigation suggests the syndicate may have additional members, as each arrested individual had specific roles in the fraudulent transactions conducted with the complainant. The operation led to the recovery of a red Toyota Innova and its LTO registration documents.

The entrapment was initiated following a complaint by Pablo Paradero Jr., who claimed to have been defrauded when purchasing a Toyota Innova listed at PHP 620,000 on an online marketplace. Paradero and his son had finalized the transaction on October 14, only for him to later be detained for using falsified documents.

The suspects are currently held at the city police's lock-up facility, awaiting the filing of formal complaints.

In a separate case, police have initiated inquest proceedings against a suspect involved in the murder of two women in Barangay San Roque, San Jose town. Capt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for NOrPPO, stated that the suspect was apprehended hours after allegedly shooting at the home of one victim, Juliet Chan Baloria, on Tuesday evening. The second victim, present at the time, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.

Authorities are investigating a potential link to an investment scheme involving Baloria, as it is alleged that she had numerous financial dealings and unresolved debts related to the scheme.