Her modus operandi may not be the stuff Sidney Sheldon novels are made of, but Rita G. Orr still managed to steal over PHP2-million worth of art pieces by Amorsolo, Sanso, Romulo Olazo, and more, reports Ricky Tulipat in Pilipino Star Ngayon.
Her modus operandi? She would befriend art collectors, “borrow” pieces from them, and promise to find them buyers.
Ramon Enriquez, one of her victims, says Orr introduced herself as an art agent and had promised to sell his Juvenal Sanso painting valued at PHP950,000. Marlyn Alcantara, another victim, entrusted PHP1.42-million worth of paintings and sculpture to Orr. In both cases, the suspect told her victims that she was able to sell the works and issued initial payments with — surprise! — bounced checks.
Photo via Wikimedia: ‘Antipolo’ by Fernando Amorsolo.
