NBI busts Visayas syndicate victimizing pensioners

MANILA, Philippines — Government agents busted a big-time syndicate victimizing lending institutions and banks catering to pensioners in Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental. Visayas-based news site Visayan Daily Star (www.visayandailystar.com) reported Friday the National Bureau of Investigation arrested at least 21 members of the gang, including the suspected mastermind. Cebu-based NBI agents arrested the suspects as they were about to enter the office of the Bohol Pension and Finance Corporation (BPFC) in Barangay Piapi last Thursday. NBI team leader Ernie Monsanto said the ring headed by one Josephine “Bebot" Jimenez of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental would recruit women to pose as pensioners or wives of pensioners seeking a loan package from lending institutions. Suspects Berminda Piala, Letty Dulce, Violeta, Ermilinda Rafols, Aida Langga, and Jimenez denied their involvement. But one of the recruits, Jennifer Mahilum, confirmed the modus operandi. She said she was told to use the name of her father, an actual pensioner, to avail herself of the loan. On the other hand, 15 of the 21 arrested suspects claimed they were just victims, and that their names were used by Jimenez’s group to avail of a loan. They said that out of the amount they got, they would only get 10 percent, with the 90 percent going to their recruiters. Monsanto said the gang already victimized BPFC last May 16, with 54 of its members posing as pensioners fooling the firm into releasing P2.2 million to them. The report said NBI agents are looking into the involvement of one “Luz Bayro," supposedly a BPFC employee who paid for the van that brought the suspects to Dumaguete City from San Carlos City. On the other hand, he said the NBI is looking into the possibility of an inside job, where the syndicate has a contact person inside the victimized lending institution to facilitate approval of the loans. Investigation also showed the syndicate is recruiting members in San Carlos, which makes it hard for the lending institution to verify the identities of their loan applicants. - GMANews.TV The NBI is also investigating a similar incident in Carcar, Cebu where members of the same group is believed to be operating. The group has also reportedly victimized similar firms in Bohol. For now, the NBI is filing syndicated estafa charges against the 21 suspects, four of whom are from Cebu. - GMANews.TV