Balita was invited to a home in Scarborough where a group of about 20 Filipinos gathered to relate how they were victimized by Rowena Villanueva, the subject of a Toronto Star headline who cheated fellow Filipinos with by now more than a million dollars in total. So many victims have surfaced after the article came out.
Dale Brazo, the author of the Toronto Star article was also present and we both listened how Rowena was able to clean them out of their lifetime savings convincing them into investing in a bogus Physiotherapy Clinic.
They each hold a contract that says they are investing in the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation group giving them a monthly dividend that will be calculated from the date of the investment at a rate of 5.7% per month.
With the current interest rates these days, this is very tempting and for people who want more for their savings, Rowena Villanueva’s offer tops them all.
The contracts stipulate that the dividends are payable in successive monthly instalments and continuing until the end of the one (1) year contract. The payments will be directly paid to the account of the victim. The contracts were signed by the victim and Rowena Villanueva who at the time of the contract signing lives at 337 – 83 Mondeo Drive in Scarborough with the tel no of 416-759-8805.
Other contracts were for investment in Rowena Hand Maid, another bogus company that Rowena created.
A victim Gloria Gahunia narrated that she once saw Rowena Villanueva escorted out by security guards of a restaurant downtown where Rowena was working before as a cashier.
Some of the victims were told that Rowena could help them buy a condo, that she owns a condo at Alton Towers that she is renting out. She also boasted about a Newmarket lot that she is ready to build her dream house and other properties that she owns..
Rowena also told them of having a cottage up North that she was offering to victims to use. When one of the victims Lilibeth Rojas asked to use it one weekend, she was told that the cottage has been sold.
Lilibeth further said. “There was no cottage, what she is talking about is Casino Rama where they go frequently and believed to be high rollers because they are treated like VIPs”
Lilibeth narrated that she was once invited by the couple and they dined at the VIP restaurant, and Rowena also gave her $100 saying she won $1000 and wanted to share the winning..
It was also mentioned about Rowena using her daughter Tricia, 21 years old, an out of town university student. The bogus cheques that were given to them are sometimes in the name of Tricia. The 21 year old sometimes deliver the cheques to their homes. Cheques that would later bounce.
The last known address of Rowena Villanueva was 1555 Birchmount Rd, Apt 203 but lived in apartment 404 in the same building in Scarborough to obviously hide from all her victims. She is also known to be using the name Weng Robles Villanueva..
Mr. Dale Brazo of the Toronto Star was kind enough to provide the victims of photos of Rowena at the parking lot of her husband’s work in Downsview, and thus providing the plate number of the car she used.
The victims revealed that Rowena and her husband Quintin Robles frequent the casinos at Casino Rama, Port Perry and Niagara Falls.
Dale Brazo is still receiving emails from supposed victims. There are still some out there. It is understood that some of the victims may be reluctant to show up because of embarrassment.
Victor Gahunia, one of the victims said “just think that by not cooperating, you are actually harbouring and aiding a crook.” Victor invested $100,000 and never saw his money after signing the contract.
Rowena Villanueva is out there still enjoying the monies she took from her victims, that are left. with invalid contracts and copies of bounced cheques.
Her facebook account showed family pictures while vacationing in Cuba. The FB account has since been shut down. She is also reported to own three cars the plate nos are as follows: a pathfinder with plate no. ANMD 785, Windstar (maroon or burgandy colour) plate no. AWTW 231 and a black Nissan Altima plate no. BHNL 525.
So those that have been victimized are asked to call Cecil Menor at 416-915-6924 or 416-305-8196 so they can all plan the next move.****