Alma Moreno Faces Estafa Charge

Actress and Parañaque City councilor Alma Moreno faces estafa case filed against her by an advertising company on Monday, September 22, at the Parañaque Prosecutor's Office.

Based on the report of GMANews.TV, an advertising firm called Media Arts Yielding Ads, Inc. (MAYA) accused Alma, or Vanessa Lacsamana-Marquez in real life, of violating the Anti-Bouncing Check Law (Batas Pambansa 22).

MAYA, through its legal counsel Benedicto Malcontento, said that Alma used the agency's services to do her campaign material for the 2007 elections, which cost more than P.3 million. Alma allegedly issued MAYA a bouncing check amounting to P390,000.

Alma admitted that she issued the said check as her payment for the services rendered by MAYA. However, in an interview with the tabloid Balita the actress-politician said that her campaign representative, named Lilibeth Peña, mismanaged the releasing of checks and failed to deposit the necessary amount to her bank account.

Meanwhile, Balita further reported that Parañaque City Assistant City Prosecutor Sheilaine Baes recommended Alma to post bail, which amounts to P30,000, for her temporary liberty.