Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

COURT-GAVEL

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — A Quezon City court on Tuesday ordered a couple accused in a multi-million-peso bibingka investment scam to pay at least one complainant nearly P5 million.</p><p>In an order penned by Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 136 Presiding Judge Lotis Rosario, the court directed spouses Norminda Sope Esperila and Dave Froilan Arizala Esperila of Mang Domeng’s Bibingka to pay the private complainant P4.9 million, representing the value of bounced checks and damages, with interest at the rate of six percent per annum.</p><p>The complainant, a person with disability due to her autoimmune disease, said she began investing with the respondents in 2021 in varying amounts. She added that she had trusted and known them as friends since high school.</p><p>“’Yon din ‘yong time na na-hospital ako, na-bedridden ako for almost four months, hindi ako makalakad. Sobra akong nagmamakaawa, nakikiusap ako sa kanila. Halos lumuhod na ako sa harapan nila na kahit P10,000 lang muna makakuha ako pero wala, hindi sila nagbigay,” the complainant said, requesting anonymity.</p><p>A single mother of three who had undergone a very dark period of depression, she said she needed the money for her children’s education.</p><p>“Para sa future ng mga anak ko ‘yong kinuha nila, ‘yong ginawa nila sa akin. So, at least for this time, masasabi ko na mapag-aaral ko nang maayos ‘yong mga anak ko,” she said.</p><p>The couple have been accused by several individuals of running an investment scam amounting to as much as P300 million. Victims were allegedly lured with promises of high returns for business expansion, but checks issued by the owners eventually bounced.</p><p>At least 12 complainants formally filed cases in court, though some did not pursue legal action.</p><p>However, the couple were acquitted of the criminal aspect of the complaint in relation to violations of Batasang Pambansa Bilang 22, or the Bouncing Checks Law.</p><p>“Even if hindi sila makulong today, I believe that the Lord has a reason for everything. Meron pa akong hina-handle against the same accused na two other cases at the moment and we are planning to file large-scale estafa against them,” said Minstrelle More, legal counsel of the complainant.</p><p>The Esperila couple declined to comment when approached by ABS-CBN News for their side.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FtG4ZRxARFw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>A Quezon City court on Tuesday ordered a couple accused in a multi-million-peso bibingka investment scam to pay at least one complainant nearly P5 million.</p>

A Quezon City court on Tuesday ordered a couple accused in a multi-million-peso bibingka investment scam to pay at least one complainant nearly P5 million.

QC court awards P5M to complainant in alleged 'bibingka investment scam'

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QC court awards P5M to complainant in alleged 'bibingka investment scam'

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 21, 2026 03:11 PM PHT

|

Updated April 21, 2026 06:33 PM PHT

Read More:

Bibingka

Mang Domeng’s Bibingka

Quezon City

scam

estafa

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