An accountant who duped a realty firm of thousands of US dollars was arrested by National Bureau of Investigation agents on a complaint filed by Guillermo Luz, also of the Ayala Foundation.

The bureau said Maurino Dayos, of Block 5, Lot 5, Celina Homes, Camarin, Caloocan City, was picked up on an arrest warrant issued by Judge Elmo Alameda, of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150, for four counts of estafa through falsification of commercial document.

NBI Interpol head Jose Gabriel said the suspect was attending a court hearing for another case in Sta, Maria, Ilocos Sur, at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Dayos is being sued for estafa involving $11,500 by the Caral Investment and Realty Corp. represented by Guillermo Luz and Sarah Severino.

The firm lists Functional Development Center Building in Makati City as its business address.

An accountant, Dayos managed to falsify a Bank of the Philippine Islands dollar account withdrawal slip dated Dec. 26, 2001 for $3,000 against the firm?s foreign currency deposits.

He allegedly forged the signatures of brothers Guillermo Luz and Juan Miguel Luz, authorized signatories of the account.

The Luzes denied the signatures, noting that the transaction was not intended as payment for a valid Caral obligation.

Records showed that Dayos was able to withdraw up to $11,500 in other transactions.