MANILA, Philippines?The talent manager of some of today's most famous stars lost P2.5 million in exchange for liver spread sold to her by a group of con artists, which included a Japanese national, police said.

Show business talent manager Rebecca Aguila Porcuna, more popularly known in showbiz circles as Becky Aguila, reported to Quezon City Police District in Camp Karingal on Wednesday afternoon that she lost at least P2.5 million last September to Linda Lopez, 54; Ricky Perez, 38; and Rolynic Marte, 40; Aldren Valiente; Cyrus Andales; Florande, and a man who claimed to be Yoshiyuki Mikimoto.

Porcuna, the manager of celebrities Angel Locsin, Jennylyn Mercado, and Valerie Concepcion, said the suspects duped her into buying ?pearl enhancers? worth P2.5 million. Pearl enhancers are pieces of jewelry on which the pearls are mounted in a design.
The talent manager said she met the suspects, separately when they inquired about a piece of property she was selling.

?They befriended me and talked about the production of cultured pearls,? she recalled. And then, she said, they informed her that they would like to find buyers for their pearl enhancers, "which turned out to be cans of potted meat.?

Porcuna, appeared at the QCPD- Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of the Quezon City Police District to give her statement to the police against the suspects, after three of them were arrested by San Juan City police in an entrapment operation staged by other victims.

She added she was aware she might not get her money back, but would be contented at the knowledge that the suspects were jailed.

"It's such a blessing that they got caught. I won't get my money back but at least they will not be able to victimize more people," she told police.

Porcuna also said that aside from her, six other people were victimized by the group and lost money ranging from P1.6 to P5 million.