Malaysian, Filipino arrested for selling text blast equipment, SIM with e-wallet

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a Malaysian national and a Filipina accused of selling registered SIM cards with verified e-wallet accounts in an entrapment operation in Manila.

Suspect Chan Ching Hong, who has been residing in the Philippines for six years, and his Filipina accomplice were arrested after reportedly selling registered SIM cards and text blast equipment being used to send out scam messages.

Also recovered from their possession are drug paraphernalia.

“Ang nahuli natin dito ay di lang yung mga small-time scammers, mga middle-level scammers kundi yung source mismo ng mga equipment. Itong tao na to, na maconsider na computer wizard, magaling. Magaling siya,” NBI-NCR Regional Director Rommel Vallejo said in John Consulta’s exclusive “24 Oras” report.

(He is not a small-time or middle-level scammer; he is the source of the equipment. He can be considered a computer wizard. He's good.)

Hong said he had several customers during his six-year stay in the Philippines.

“Because I didn't scam anything. I think it's okay...I don't know what they were doing. I just have the boss ask me to do whatever they want. That's all,” he said.

GMA Integrated News sought the comment of the Filipina suspect, but she declined to give a statement.

The suspects will face multiple charges.

“Mag-file tayo ng violation ng Republic Act No. 8484, Access Device Act in Relation to Cybercrime Prevention Act,” said Vallejo.

(We will file charges for violating RA No. 8484 or the Access Device Act in Relation to Cybercrime Prevention Act.)

“And then yung violation ng RA No. 11934 (SIM Registration Act) in relation to Cybercrime Prevention Act and violation na rin ng RA No. 9165 laban sa kaniya dun sa mga nakita nating shabu paraphernalia na may mga traces ng illegal drugs,” he said.

(They also violated RA No. 11934 in relation to Cybercrime Prevention Act and RA No. 9165 for the shabu paraphernalia that has traces of illegal drugs.)  — Sundy Locus/VBL, GMA Integrated News