PHILIPPINES NEWS SERVICE — THE National Bureau of Investigation will investigate television host-comedian Jose Manalo and his wife in connection with the multi-million-peso estafa complaint filed against them by several jewelers.
Jose, Ariel Pagtalonia Manalo in real life and host of popular noontime show “Eat Bulaga,” and his wife Anna Lyn, will be summoned by the NBI to shed light on the matter.
The couple will also be given a chance to file their counter-affidavits, the NBI said.
The bureau has started evaluating the documents submitted by the complainants to determine the basis for the complaint.
The complainants claimed that the transactions were done mostly with Anna Lyn in 2006, 2007 and 2008. But they included the TV host-comedian in the complaint because some checks were signed by the couple.
The complainants were identified as Violy Alipio, Roel Lumbang, Purificacion D. Naive, Annie Dizon, Naneth Ugaddan, Susan Escosma, Aida Latuc, Tri-nidad Romeo Egya and Elenita Pabalate, all engaged in jewelry and real property business.
The NBI is also evaluating the complaint affidavits and copies of bounced checks allegedly issued by Anna Lyn to the jewelers.
The checks reportedly bounced after the bank accounts of the Manalos were closed.
Pabalate said that Anna Lyn bought jewelry from her in 2008 worth P4,059,200 on consignment basis. She issued the post-dated checks amounting to P332,300 which bounced.
She demanded payment or replacement of the checks, but Manalo’s wife failed to comply.
Latoc said she delivered jewelry to Anna Lyn in July 2008. She said the first check issued by the comedian’s wife was good but the checks bounced.
Alipio claimed she lost over P2 million worth of jewelry to Anna Lyn, while Lumbang lost P5 million worth of Rolex watches.