NBI arrests investment scam suspect in Parañaque City

Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation-Bulacan District Office (NBI-BULDO) arrested an investment scam suspect in an entrapment operation in Parañaque City, the NBI said Tuesday.

In a statement, NBI said the operation stemmed from a complainant who said that the suspect offered him an opportunity to invest in a poultry project last March 2022.

Based on the investigation, the suspect was able to convince the complainant to visit the poultry site located at Talugtug, Nueva Ecija.

He was then introduced to the alleged Project Manager of the poultry project and was told that he would earn a huge amount of money from the investment.

In the same month, the complainant visited the poultry again and was lured to invest in three slots worth P1.5 million.

The complainant handed over P750,000 to the suspect and project manager but no receipt was issued for the payment.

The two suspects contacted the complainant and instructed him to pay the remaining balance of P750,000 or else he would lose his two slots.

The complainant was then told that the construction of the poultry would start after six months after he settled his balance.

After seven months, the suspect called an emergency meeting with the investors and introduced a new person in charge of the project because the project manager allegedly run off with the money intended for the poultry project.

On May 22, 2021, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to show that the construction of the poultry would still push through.

The suspect called the complainant on April 2022 and asked for P100,000, which he said would be used to pay for the building permit of three poultry vent tunnels.

“The complainant told the subjects that he can only pay P50,000, both of the subjects agreed, but the complainant was not able to pay the same,” the NBI said.

“After a month, the two subjects called the complainant and informed him that the payment for the building permit had increased to P200,000 and threatened the complainant that if he failed to pay the said amount his investment of P1.5 million will be forfeited.”

This prompted the complainant to seek the help of NBI-BULDO to conduct an entrapment operation.

The NBI operatives agreed to meet the suspect in a coffee shop in Parañaque City on July 4 and made the arrest after handing over the P200,000 marked money.

The suspect was presented for inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice for syndicated Estafa under Art. 315 of the Revised Penal Code. — DVM, GMA News