7 officials of remittance firm accused of syndicated estafa

MANILA, Philippines – Seven officials of a remittance company were accused of syndicated estafa, allegedly for failing to transfer more than P300,000 sent by a Filipina nurse from the United Kingdom to her sister here in the Philippines. This was revealed on Thursday by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which identified the company as Far East Express Remittances Inc., which has its office at the at the South Star Plaza Building, in Barangay Bangkal, Makati. Named as respondents in the case are the following: • Josephine Alayon, general manager and treasurer • Adan Ubando, chairman and president • Jerome Ubando, incorporator • Lalaine Ubando, incorporator • Edwin Ong, incorporator • lawyer Roberto Dio, corporate secretary • lawyer Ma. Pilar Pilares-Gutierrez, assistant corporate secretary The case stemmed from the complaint of Linie Namoca, 31, a resident of Antipolo, Rizal, according to Arnel Dalumpines, chief of the NBI Special Task Force. As she stated in her complaint, Namoca said her sister Lizle, a nurse working in London, sent her 3,800 pounds (about P315,136) last April through London-based AJ Global Services Ltd. (P316,487), which was supposed to have been remitted and deposited to her savings account at the Ortigas branch of Banco de Oro. Days passed but still no amount was deposited to her account. Namoca to called her sister abroad. The sister inquired about the money with the staff of AJ Global Services Ltd. The nurse found out that her money had been sent through Far East Express, AJ Global's sister company in the Philippines. When the complainant checked, Alayon, Far East Express general manager, told her that the money was already with them and that they were only doing an accounting of all the money sent from abroad. She said Alayon even assured her that she would speed up the process of having her money deposited to her account. But months passed, and despite repeated demands from Namoca, no money was deposited to her account. Namoca went to the NBI to complain. The NBI sent a subpoena to the last known office address of Far East Express, at Room 9 B at the ninth floor of the Valero Tower Condominium, 122 Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati City. The subpoena was returned allegedly because the company moved out of the building. The NBI then sent another subpoena to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asking for the articles of incorporation and by-laws of Far East Express, where in a new address was located and the incorporators’ names revealed. The NBI then sent a subpoena was then sent to the incorporators, but they failed to shed light on the matter. In a letter to the Makati City Prosecutor, NBI Director lawyer Mantaring berated the company, saying: "Far East Express Remittance Philippines Inc., instead of helping our OFWs, victimizes our modern-day heroes who endure everything just to earn money for their family and children." - GMANews.TV