MANILA, Philippines - A senator asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday to step up efforts to stop the activities of a gang cloning automated teller machine (ATM) cards.
Sen. Grace Poe issued a statement following the arrest of Navy Ltjg. Raphael Marcial in Makati last Friday for allegedly withdrawing money using a cloned ATM card. Eleven other cloned ATM cards were found in his possession.
Marcial, who was dropped from the roster of the Presidential Security Group, was released from police custody Tuesday afternoon after he was charged with violating Republic Act 8484, the access devices regulation law.
Alarming reports
During a joint committee hearing on the issue, Poe expressed concern over alarming reports of ATM card fraud. The hearing involved members of committees on public order and dangerous drugs; banks, financial institutions and currencies; and trade, commerce and entrepreneurship.
The PNP presented the various modes of ATM fraud, which include a skimming plate placed on top of keypads to copy personal identification number codes of depositors to illegally withdraw money from bank accounts.
The police recorded cases of ATM fraud in Bel-Air, Ayala and Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City, EDSA-Pasay, and Parañaque. There were also reported incidents in Angeles City and Cebu.
Skimming devices are normally attached to ATMs during early morning or late at night, the police said. The syndicates usually normally attach the skimming devices to an ATM no longer than 24 hours.
“The banks have bigger losses (due to) ATM card fraud than bank robbery,†the PNP said in its slide presentation to the Senate panel. The PNP noted that anyone can possess a skimming device.
The PNP added that criminals may loiter around unscrupulous victims at ATM branches and then remove the skimming devices after the victims’ transactions.
Suggested measures
During the hearing, Poe opposed a proposal to decrease the withdrawable amount per day, saying it would adversely affect economic activity.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it issued a directive requiring banks to shift from using magnetic stripes to chips in their ATM cards to strengthen the system.
Poe also asked the PNP to submit a proposal to strengthen its capability to combat ATM fraud to ensure the welfare of depositors and the integrity of the banking system.
The BSP recorded 1,272 reports of ATM fraud in 2013, involving an estimated P220 million, while P175 million was lost to the scam in 2012.
Probe ongoing
Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban said they received an order from the city prosecutor’s office to release Marcial at around 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Lukban, however, said Marcial remains under investigation by the Makati police. “The investigation is ongoing,†he said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also announced earlier that it is conducting its own probe of Marcial to determine if he should be subjected to court martial proceedings and later be ordered dismissed from the military.
AFP public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said an accused member of the military is made to face a court martial for charges that are not found in the Revised Penal Code. These charges include conduct prejudicial to good order and conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman.
Marcial graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 2008.