A woman in Mandaue City, Jhea Ramos Jualo, 24 years old, was caught and is now facing estafa charges. She was accused by an American national of obtaining more than P1.5 million through a so-called love scam.
According to the National Bureau of Investigation Cebu District Office (NBI-Cebdo), Jualo was arrested in an entrapment operation at a coffee shop on April 24. The case against him was formally filed on April 28.
The victim, 'Paul', said he met Jhea in 2023 through the help of Jhea's brother, RJ, during a relief effort in Maasin City, Leyte. They started with online messaging and it turned into a relationship, where Jhea gradually asked for money.
At first, Jhea only asked for a small amount for his family. But the time came when he asked for P300,000 and P2.4 million for the downpayment of the condominium unit. That's when Paul became suspicious and sought help from the NBI.
Jualo defended himself, saying he used the money for his family's needs. He apologized to Paul after they met face-to-face, but Paul was still determined to pursue the case against him.
