CEBU, Philippines - Forty-three Taiwanese nationals in Iloilo City were arrested yesterday for their alleged involvement in cyber money laundering schemes and telecommunication fraud.
Combined elements of the PNP Anti-Cyber Crime Group, based in Camp Crame, and the Iloilo City Police first rounded up 21 male and two female Taiwanese at Imperial VI Subdivision in Barangay Guzman-Jesena of Mandurriao district, this city.
In a follow-up operation, 20 other Taiwanese were collared at Ledesco Subdivision in La Paz district, also in this city.
According to Superintendent Bernard Yang, team leader of the PNP's ACCG, an information from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office led his team to the group's lair.
This latest arrest was the third this year. Last January, the PNP ACCG also made arrests in Angeles City, Pampanga followed by another operation in Parañaque City.
"They (syndicate) transferred their operation in Iloilo City because the police are already hot on their trails in Metro Manila," Yang said.
Considering that the suspects were members of an organized group, Yang also hinted at the possibility that they belong to the Taiwanese mafia, although there was no sign that they could be linked to any terroristic activities.
Yang said the group's modus operandi is a classic example of the operations of criminal syndicate in China, involving the use of the Internet.
The group allegedly call on unsuspecting companies or individuals in mainland China and Taiwan claiming that it represents the police, the prosecutor's office, the courts, the insurance companies, the banks and other financial institutions.
"They (syndicate) will then inform their victims that they are involved in money laundering, funding terroristic activities or other fraud. They then advised their victims to transfer their money to accounts, which they control," Yang said. As it is, they could convince the victims, out of fear, to follow the group's instructions.
During yesterday's operation, the police recovered assorted telecommunication and information technology equipment that the group allegedly used in its operations.
The suspects will be charged for violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998 in relation to RA 10175 or the Cyber Crime Prevention Act of 2012.