Gubernatorial Candidate and Three Others Arrested for Alleged Swindling in Guimaras
ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A gubernatorial candidate and three others were arrested in Sibunag, Guimaras, on Tuesday for alleged swindling.
Margarita Cacho, her secretary Cayetano Leal, and two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel were apprehended during a sting operation conducted at Cacho’s residence in Barangay Sabang.
The PCG officers were reportedly serving as Cacho’s bodyguards. Cacho is running for governor of Guimaras against incumbent Rep. Ma. Lucille Nava.
According to Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, director of the Western Visayas police, the arrest stemmed from a complaint filed by a businessman.
The complainant claimed that Cacho had promised to assist him in setting up a motor vehicle testing center and allegedly demanded ₱1 million in exchange for expediting the approval of his application with the Department of Transportation.
He initially agreed to pay ₱400,000, which was handed over as part of the sting operation. Police recovered the marked money from Cacho, along with two pistols found in possession of the PCG personnel.
ILOILO CITY – A woman who allegedly posed as a relative of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos was arrested in an entrapment operation in Guimaras on Tuesday, February 11.
Sixty-five-year-old Margarita Cacho was apprehended in Sibunag by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-6 (CIDG-6) and the Guimaras Police Provincial Office.
According to Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, chief of Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6), the operation was conducted under the monitoring of the Office of the President.
Cacho allegedly deceived individuals by claiming she was related to the First Lady and could secure government contracts on their behalf.
She and her alleged accomplice, Cayetano Leal, are now facing estafa charges filed before the Guimaras Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, February 12.
Authorities said Cacho promised to facilitate a project for an emission testing center under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in exchange for ₱1 million.
The complainant reportedly paid her an initial ₱400,000 last September, but Cacho repeatedly demanded the remaining ₱600,000 to push the deal forward.
Cacho is currently running for governor of Guimaras in the upcoming May elections.
Also arrested were two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel, Apprentice Seaman Marwin Parpan and Seaman Second Class Rico Raylan, who identified themselves as Cacho’s bodyguards. They were taken into custody for violating the election gun ban, with firearms and ammunition recovered from them.