NEWSFLASH

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SHARON SUED FOR ESTAFA BY CONDO BUYERS

Pasay City, Sept. 24, 1998 - Sharon Cuneta is being sued for estafa by two condominium buyers for falsely advertising that the condominium units being sold by the actress are located in Makati City.

Charged with Cuneta are her business partner Emilio Ching and five representatives of the First Design Builders and Marketing.

The complainants, Milagros Alora and Mary Jean Chua, alleged that starting in 1996, Cuneta's photograph and signature appeared in print advertisements of Central Park II Condominium, enticing prospective buyers with misleading information that made the two business women purchase their units by instalment.

"The actual and real location of the property was along Jorge Street, San Roque, Pasay City, but Sharon's advertisements stated that the condominium unites were in Makati," said the complainants. The same mis-information also appeared in leaflets, brochures and handouts distributed by the agents of the marketing outfit, First Design Builders and Marketing Management.

Alora and Chua, in a complaint affidavit filed before the Pasay City Prosecutor's Office yesterday, said the outfit "actively and commercially" promoted and distributed the materials containing a vicinity map showing the project site was along Hen. Tinio Street, Bangkal, Makati City.

They also charged that they were assured the units they bought would be ready for occupancy by March 1998, after paying P50,000 reservation fee and issuing checks totalling P140,000.

They claim to have religiously settled their monthly amortizations until January 20, 1997, after their ocular inspection of the project revealed that the building remained at excavation level only despite a lapse of two years since their initial purchase payment.

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