A big time Metro Manila swindler who has victimized a number of police officials in Bicol of their hard-earned money by offering attractive high-yielding interest in an Investment scheme, was collared on Monday by police operatives in Malolos, Bulacan after a local court issued a warrant for her arrest for string of estafa cases, the police regional office here, said.

Police Supt. Eliciar Bron, Bicol PNP spokesman, said Mrs. Teresita Santos of Marikina City was arrested at about 11:00 am on Monday by a combined team from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Special Action Force (SAF) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Bron said Santos is facing twenty-three counts of estafa charges in violation of Batas Pambansa 22 or Anti-Bouncing Check Law amounting to P43 million in Pili town, Camarines Sur.

She is also wanted by the authorities in Metro Manila for allegedly swindling a number of people amounting to P5 billion for the past year.

Bron bared Santos defrauded by some P43 million one Chief Inspector Jun Mendenilla, a member of the Directorate for Investigation and Detection Management in Camp Crame and a native of Pili, capital town of Camarines Sur.

Mrs. Santos reportedly eluded various attempts by police to arrest her before, owing to reports that her husband is a police officer of the Marikina police.

"We are still conducting a thorough investigation on this case," said Inspector Ruben Azañes, Pili town chief of police, in a telephone interview.

Azañes said the warrant of arrest was signed by Judge Maximo Badilla of Pili Municipal Trial Court.

Santos is now detained at the Pill town police jail.

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