P60-M fake pre-paid cards seized in Makati

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) seized at least 200,000 pieces of tampered Smart pre-paid cellular phone cards worth P60 million during an entrapment operation in Makati City last Friday.

CIDG director Chief Superintendent Arturo Lomibao identified the arrested suspects as John Cabbigat of Lagawe, Ifugao; Rhea Rose, Rafelita Cruz and Evangeline de Leon, all residents of Tower B, Kingswood Condominium, Makati City.

Officials of Smart Communications Inc., through its legal officer Enrico Espanol, sought the assistance of the PNP-CIDG on the illegal sale of fake Smart phone cards to the public.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Rosa, chief of the CIDG Anti-Transnational Crime Division said that the tampered Smart pre-paid cards are being sold at a much lower price by the suspects.

"And if you happen to buy one, you find out that it won’t register in your cellular phone," Sosa said.

CIDG agents, led by Chief Inspector Bernard Yang, intercepted the tampered cards along De La Rosa street in Makati City. Lomibao said charges of violation of Republic Act 8484, otherwise known as the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998, would be filed against the four suspects. — Christina Mendez