Who prosecutes “Blackmail ring”?: PRO-7 versus foreign cops

CEBU, Philippines - Where will the 69 foreigners arrested in Cebu for online fraud and blackmail be prosecuted?

The Philippine National Police  is  set to file cases against them so they can face charges here but the National Police Agency of Taiwan are also working on cancelling their citizens’ passports so they can be deported immediately,  said Supt. Rex Derilo, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division 7.

There are 26 Taiwanese of the 69 arrested last Tuesday afternoon for alleged participation in an international online syndicate. The rest are Chinese.

Derilo said representatives from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines and the Chinese Embassy went to the Police Regional Office yesterday to account for their nationals.

They refused to issue any statement.

Because of their number, the arrested foreigners are being housed at the PRO7 multipurpose hall are being guarded closely by policemen with long firearms. They are facing charges for violating the Access Devices Regulations Act of 1998 and for violating the country’s immigration laws.

PRO-7 Director, Chief Supt. Prudencio Tom Bañas, said arrested individuals would blackmail fellow Chinese and Taiwanes nationals.

They would allegedly call the victims pretending that they are from the Internal Revenue office of their countries and are investigating a case of money laundering. They would then forward the call to another person who would pretend to be from the money laundering agency, tell the victims their accounts have been used in money laundering cases or other crimes, and ask them to transfer all their money to a bank account while the investigation is ongoing.

Once the money is been transferred, the suspects would severe contacts with the victims.

Bañas said no less than TECO Executive Assistant Jerry Chih-Yung Wang gave them the information.

After surveillance, the police implemented the nine search warrants issued by RTC Executive Judge Soliver Peras in three areas in Cebu City – two in Barangay Talamban and one in Barangay Mabolo.

Bañas said the foreigners might have thought they could get away with doing the crime here. The leaders are reportedly based elsewhere, most likely in China or Taiwan.

The arrested individuals refused to comment, indicating that they could not speak English. One of them, however, was seen speaking English to his Filipina girlfriend. — /JMO (FREEMAN)