The Bureau of Immigration (BI) apprehended in Manila the alleged Japanese leader of a scam group that targeted senior citizens in Japan while operating out of the Philippines.
According to a 24 Oras Weekend report by John Consulta, four officers from the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) collaborated to subdue and arrest the suspect.
“Itong grupo na ito, matagal na nating sinusubaybayan. Nahuli na natin ang ibang miyembro nito last year,” said BI-FSU Head Chief Rendel Sy.
(This group has been under surveillance for a long time. We apprehended other members last year.)
Reports from Japan’s Interpol indicate that the group preyed on elderly individuals by posing as law enforcement representatives.
“Sinasabi nila na kailangan nilang magbayad sa pulis. Nagpapadala sila sa bahay ng senior citizen para humingi ng malaking pera,” Sy explained.
(They would convince victims that they needed to pay the police, then send someone to the victims’ homes to collect large sums of money.)
Authorities recovered a fake identification card with a Filipino name from the suspect.
“Yung modus nila ay very similar doon sa Luffy group kung saan tatawagan ng mga scammer nila na nakabase dito sa Pilipinas and then may mga local actors sila na ipapadala sa bahay ng biktima,” Sy noted.
(Their modus operandi is strikingly similar to the Luffy group. The scammers operate from the Philippines and coordinate with local actors who are sent to victims’ homes.)
Before the suspect’s deportation to Japan, where he faces charges, the BI-FSU plans to investigate whether he has victimized Filipinos.
“Napakahalaga na mahuli natin ito at mapigilan sa pamamalagi kasi di malayong mag-localise din ang market nila, makapag-recruit ng mga Pilipino actors para makapang-scam ng mga kapwa nating Pilipino,” Sy added.
(It is crucial to apprehend and prevent individuals like this from remaining in the country. Otherwise, they could localize their operations, recruit Filipino actors, and begin scamming our citizens.)
GMA Integrated News is still trying to get the sides of the foreigners who are already detained at the BI detention facility in Bicutan. — Sherylin Untalan/DVM, GMA Integrated News
Be the first to comment