Victims of P200-M investment scam in Batangas seek mayor's help

The victims of a P200-million investment scam in Tanauan City in Batangas sought the help of the mayor in finding the couple who allegedly duped them, according to a report on Unang Balita on Wednesday.

No less than 20 people marched to Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili’s office to voice out their complaints against the couple.

According to the victims, Eric and Ariane Dalisay allegedly fooled them into investing in what later turned out to be a scam.

One of the victims identified as “Ivy” (not her real name) shared how Ariane Dalisay sweet-talked her into investing money in 2015 into a fund that will be used to grant loans to the employees of the company the latter was working for.

"Ang first transaction namin ni Ariane ay August 25, 2015. Bale in-offer-an niya ako na magpasok ng pera sa company tapos mag-i-interest daw ng every 11th and 26th of the month. Pagdating ng January 2017, doon na ako nag-start maglagay ng milyon," she said.

However, in January, payments from the couple started getting delayed until she was left with a promise that she will get paid.

The couple has been missing since then.

“Noong magpu-pull out na ako, binigyan ko siya ng two months para makapag-pull out ako ng pera paunti-unti. Nag-o-okey siya. Pero nu'ng ipu-pull out ko na, nagsinungaling pa siya sa akin na na-deposit niya na 'yung pera ko sa bangko. Then pag-open ko ng bank account ko, wala na siyang laman hanggang sa hinanap ko na siya nang hinanap at hindi ko na siya nakita," Ivy added.

Another victim identified as “Denise” (not her real name) claimed being conned by the couple. Instead of money, phones were taken from her.

Denise said that on April this year, the suspects allegedly bought 250 units of cellphones from her, amounting to P1.2 million. She was supposed to receive the payment on April 30 but the couple did not pay her.

“'Yun pala, binenta niya na sa isa pang tao ng presyong lugi," Denise said.

Even "Genevieve", Ariane’s aunt, was fooled by her own niece. Ariane allegedly asked about P3 million from Genevieve as a fund for a loan.

The local government has pledged to help the victims.

Tanauan City Mayor Halili then reminded the public to be careful.

"Huwag patutukso doon sa masyadong malaki ang kita. Anything that's too good to be true, e pagsuspetsahan niyo," he said.

The Dalisay couple lived in Barangay Natatas in Tanauan, Batangas before they fled.

GMA News went to their house but family members said the couple has not been home for a long time. —Akari Nakano/KG, GMA News