An arrest warrant for estafa in relation to a failed land lease was issued against Brgy. Captain Elsie Valenzuela of Brgy. Estefania by Regional Trial Court Judge Franklin Demeonteverde Tuesday.

Valenzuela, was not detained, however, as she was able to post P30,000 in bail, Police Officer 3 Nestor Mioten of the Bacolod City Police Warrant and Subpoena Section said yesterday.

Valenzuela refused to comment regarding the case, but stressed that it has nothing to do with her duties as barangay captain.

The charges were filed against her by businessman Egmidio Bongco Sr., who is the representative of Bongco Agri-Ventures Inc. sometime on April 20, 2012.

Bongco, in his complaint, claimed that on July 12, last year he negotiated with Valenzuela for the lease of a 19-hectare lot of land her family owned in Brgy. Ma-ao, Bago City.

Bongco said he paid Valenzuela P100,000 as initial payment on October 14, and a contract of lease for three crop years was executed between the two of them.

He added that the same lease of contract fixed the rental at P285,000 every crop year, and that he notified Valenzuela that they will take over and cultivate the area they leased but when they inspected the lot they found out that someone was already renting the lot.

Bongco asked Valenzuela to return the payments they had but she failed, prompting him to file the charges.

Aside from estafa, Bongco also filed charges of violation of Batas Pambansa Bilang 22 against Valenzuela for allegedly issuing bouncing checks as payments for her personal debt in the amount of P142,500.*APN

back to top