The chief of Police Station 2 in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, which has jurisdiction over the subdivision where the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) traced an alleged scam hub, has not been remiss of his duties.

This is according to the Director of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO), which has supervision over Station 2. 

P/Col. Dyan Agustin said the Station 2 chief was relieved from his post only for purposes of determining if the report he has forwarded to the PNP headquarters was consistent to how the operation turned out.

“Actually, administrative relief yung chief ng station for purposes of conducting kung tama ba yung information na binigay niya dun sa lumabas dun sa operation. Kasi ang instruction sa amin, monitoring of POGO and IGL sa mga areas na nasasakupan namin,” Agustin said.

The Station 2 chief has remained with LCPO while investigation into the matter is ongoing. His deputy is leading the station, as of this writing.

“Dito lang sya sa Lapu-Lapu, hindi po sya maalis dito, kasi, anytime, kung ma-clear naman ‘yung ano, ibabalik ko pa rin siya as commander ng Station 2,” Agustin said.

Agustin explained that securing a cyber warrant is a complicated process so they forward results of their intelligence monitoring to groups like the PNP Cybercrime Unit and the NBI that are more well-versed in securing the warrant.

It was on June 5, 2025 when NBI personnel raided a house at a subdivision in Barangay Mactan allegedly used as a scam hub.

The caretaker of the house told GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak that all he knew was that the house was rented out to foreigners who were operating an online school.

He was then surprised to learn that it was raided by the NBI.

CITY MONITORING

Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu Mayor Junard Chan said they have gathered the officers of homeowners groups at subdivisions suspected to have scam hubs operating.

He said the city has formed what it calls as Task Force AIBO (Anti-Illegal Business Operations) but the group’s monitoring does not extend to residential areas.

He said the city continues to monitor areas where alleged scam hubs are operating.

“Ato nang napahibaw ang atong homeowners when it comes to this, no, niining mga scam hub nga naa sa ilaha for their safety so mao na nga usa sa makatabang sad gyud ang mga informant nato in the subdivisions nga mga officers,” Chan said.

“We already reported and we are coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration (BI),” he added.

Chan is the head of the Regional Peace and Order Council.