BCPO nabs one of Baguio’s “Top Wanted Persons”

A 62-year-old businesswoman, deemed as one of the “Top Wanted Persons” in Baguio City, was caught on Monday, March 2, at the Teachers Village, Marcos Highway. The suspect was arrested for five charges of Estafa.

According to Police Master Sergeant Gelai Moyao of Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) Station 2, they had been receiving reports about Elsie Torres Victor since last year. The officer also added that they started monitoring Victor during September of 2019; however, she went into hiding and was allegedly seen in Dagupan, Pangasinan.

“7 months na naming siyang binabantayan. Since September pa. Pero, nagtago siya allegedly sa Dagupan,” said Moyao in an interview.

(We’ve been monitoring her for 7 months already—since September. However, she allegedly hid in Dagupan.”)

Victor’s total recommended bail money from five different judges amounts to 348,000 pesos. Regardless of this, Officer Moyao explained that the suspect will not be able to bail since she has to fulfill two service of sentence, estimated to be more or less than 4 years.

“Hindi po siya pwedeng magpyansa dahil sa Service of Sentence. Meaning, kailangan niyang pagdusahan yung nagawa niyang kasalanan doon sa labas. Yung isa four months, yung isa four years ata. Kailangang tapusin niya. Tapos may 348,000 [pesos] na pangbail niya sana.”

(She cannot bail due to her Service of Sentence. Meaning, she would have to pay for the wrong doings she committed outside. One is 4 months, and I think the other one is 4 years.  She has to complete all of those. She also has a total of 348,000 [pesos] as the recommended bail.)

The suspect was initially tracked at her house at Km. 4 Sto Thomas Proper, Teacher’s Village. This was done with the help of an attorney who reported to the officials that he had seen Victor in the area. Police Staff Sergeant Solban Ngalatan immediately responded to the hint but failed to locate the house of the suspect.

Although, the police finally caught Victor when an “Alpha” (a civilian asked to report to the officials) confirmed to the force that Victor was indeed residing at her house once more. The operation was headed by Police Captain Jeremiah Reyna Benito together with the Tracker team of Station 2.

Victor will undergo 5 different trials from the Regional and Municipal Trial Courts starting on March 5.

By Agatha Fritzie Mateo