Malate scam hub changes biz name despite police raids
THE suspected Ermita, Manila ‘scam hub’ raided by combined agents of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group and the National Capital Region Police Office last October 29 has turned out to have changed name after being already raided twice by authorities, PNP spokesperson, Colonel Jean S. Fajardo said yesterday.
The official said that prior to last Tuesday’s operation, the company called Quantum Solution was formerly known as the Vertex Technology which was confirmed to have been raided twice by authorities for suspected involvement in fraudulent online activities.
Brig. Gen. Fajardo said that the 2rd floor of the Century Peak Tower in Ermita remained under the control of PNP-ACG operatives as of press time.
“It is still being treated as a crime scene and is under processing,” she said while adding that officers recovered several documents that Vertex Technology and Quantum Solution are one but the same.
She explained that Vertex Technology was raided for violation of Securities and Exchange Commission or SEC rules and regulations and for allegedly engaging in so-called ‘Love Scams and Cryptocurrency Scam.’
Last Thursday, PNP-ACG and NCRPO operatives raided the building without the presence of officers from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.
Brig. Gen. Fajardo said the IACAT and PAOCC presence during the raid was not needed since it was not a human trafficking operation but a mere serving of a Warrant to Search, Seize and Examine Computer Data issued by a local court.
Incidental to the raid, 69 foreigners composed of 34 Indonesians, 10 Malaysians and 25 Chinese nationals were placed under the custody of the raiders and subsequently taken to the NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.
The 69 foreigners include 59 males and 10 females who were all subsequently released to the custody of their respective agencies after the Bureau of Immigration refused to hold them after documentation and conduct of biometrics.
Brig. Gen. Fajardo said that the result of the technical examination being conducted by the PNP-ACG will be used as a basis for filing appropriate criminal charges against the accused which include seven persons identified in the warrant plus the building owner, managers, supervisors, team leaders, and other occupants of the facility.
Raiders recovered 115 desktop computers, 36 laptop computers and hundreds of assorted mobile phones which are now all undergoing forensic examination.
The PNP spokesperson said the raided office is facing charges for violation of SEC rules and regulations unlike that in Bamban, Tarlac where the PAOCC was supported by agents from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in investigating trafficking in persons case taking place in the facility said to be being operated by the group of already dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.
“Dito sa Malate, this is a fraud case where the PNP-ACG and the NCRPO were joined by representatives from the SEC and PAGCOR.
Brig. Gen. Fajardo said an investigation is already underway to establish the real owners and operators of the raided facility. “Hindi po malayo na me nagkakanlong, na may influential na tao na nagkakanlong, kasi twice na raided pero patuloy pa din,” she said.
The official assured the public that cases will be filed against anybody who will be found to be involved in the illegal operations of the raided office.
However, she refused to engage in a ‘word war’ with the PAOCC who earlier cried foul over the use of their name during the raid.
Gen. Marbil on Sunday lauded the PNP-ACG headed by Major Gen. Ronnie Francis M. Cariaga for dismantling the so-called ‘Mother of All Scam Hubs’ in Ermita, Manila amid President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order to shut down all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGO hubs in the country.
