The Daily Tribune
‘Estapador’ falls into NBI trap
The NBI arrested Mary Jocelyn Vergara Balubayan during an entrapment operation at the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) main office on October 10, 2025, for allegedly defrauding distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Balubayan and her alleged cohort, Nialmo Lovina, who is still at large, are accused of demanding fees from OFWs for fake Certificates of Indigency, purportedly from Barangay Commonwealth in Quezon City.
The suspects allegedly enticed OFWs to pay for the falsified documents, demanding P1,000 from a P5,000 DSWD cash aid and 15% of a P50,000 DMW assistance.
Verification with the barangay confirmed the certificates were spurious, leading the DMW to suspend several claims under the agency's Action Fund.
Balubayan faces charges for estafa (swindling) and underwent inquest proceedings, while a manhunt for Lovina is ongoing.
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