Police nab 150 Chinese, Taiwanese involved in alleged telecoms fraud

More than 150 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals allegedly involved in a telecommunications fraud were arrested in separate operations in Ilocos Sur and Las Piñas City on Saturday morning.

Superintendent Marni Marcos Jr., head of the Philippine National Police's Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), said a total of 105 people from China and Taiwan were arrested in two buildings in sitio Nagtupacan, Barangay Pudoc in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur at around 6 a.m.

Marcos said 62 of the suspects were initially arrested. A total of 43 more suspects were discovered by the operatives when one of those being arrested ran to an adjacent building.

"Our operating troops chased him and when they entered the establishment, they found another 43 Chinese," he said.

He said 31 more were arreted in a separate operation in the same town.

Meanwhile, 17 Chinese men were also collared in a raid at the Citadella Executive Village in Las Piñas City.

The ACG said the suspects were hired by a syndicate involved in fraudulent telecommunications operations, which targets businessmen and companies in mainland China.

It said that the suspects, posing as policemen, prosecutors and judges, would call business owners and inform the victims that their phone numbers or bank accounts were being probed.

Offeriung assistance, the suspects would ask the victims to open bank accounts and transfer huge amounts of money, as much as $1.2 million.

Marcos said the arrest of the suspects was made after several weeks of investigations.

He said the operation was conducted based on information from their Chinese counterparts.

Authorities are investigating if similar syndicates are operating in the country.

Seized from the suspects were laptops, cellphones, routers and other instruments being used for their illegal activities.

Appropriate criminal charges are now being readied against the suspects, who have been taken to the police headquarters in Camp Crame for custody. —Jamil Santos/ALG, GMA News