Claudine, Raymart to NBI: We are also victims

A lawyer representing celebrities Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago appeared yesterday at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to say that they were also victims of FrancSwiss Investment.

Regional Director Ruel Lasala, of the NBI-National Capital Region (NCR), said Ellen Veza appeared at their office at around 11 a.m. yesterday and asked for a copy of the syndicated estafa charges filed against Eleazar Castillo, the alleged FrancSwiss chief financial adviser, before the Department of Justice (DOJ) last July 6.

Veza was reportedly hired to represent Barretto,  Santiago, and Jay Heredia.

“She asked why the names of her three clients were mentioned in media reports on FrancSwiss,” Lasala said. The NBI earlier said they are still confirming the veracity of Castillo’s claims that Barretto and Santiago invested in FrancSwiss.

“The attorney said that her clients were also victims because they were unable to recover their financial investments. She, however, did not mention how much money was placed into FrancSwiss,” said Lasala.

According to the NBI, FrancSwiss recruiters convince people to invest $1,000 by telling them that they will earn $45 a day in interest.

Lasala said that while they did not subpoena Veza to their office, he said he understands that Barretto was unable to make a personal appearance since she is due to give birth within the month.

He said even got a chance to talk to Barretto on the phone and assure her that she was properly represented by her lawyer.

Lasala said while more and more people are coming forward to report that they were duped by the alleged investment scam, he said there had also been incidents when would-be complainants withdrew their statements because the person who recruited them returned their investments after hearing that they have filed a complaint with the NBI.

“One example is the case of five persons who complained against their upline but once their upline learned that they went to the NBI, then the upline returns their money,” he said.

They have also alerted their regional offices all over the country, particularly in Davao, Baguio, Isabela and gave them instructions to receive complaints against FrancSwiss. Apart from Filipinos living in the country, the syndicate may have also allegedly targeted overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) “since they are the ones who have the dollars.”

Lasala said they also encounter situations wherein victims are hesitant to press charges because the one who recruited them is a relative and a victim as well.

One of the complainants said that an Internet café in Metrowalk, Pasig City used to be the favorite hangout of FrancSwiss investors. He had reportedly seen Barretto, Santiago, actors Sylvia Sanchez and William Martinez, and basketball players Bonel Balingit, John Ferriols and Poch Juinio.

The complainant, a 32-year-old fast-food chain worker, said he was allegedly recruited by Edwin Sendana, one of the suspects earlier mentioned in the case filed against Castillo.

He was persuaded to invest $3,000 after he recovered his initial investment of $1,000 and earned a little profit. He lost his second investment because the scam had been exposed.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) released late Wednesday five suspected FrancSwiss recruiters after the complainants withdrew the charges against them.

Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula said the Quezon City prosecutor’s office ordered the suspects’ release after their lawyer presented the complainants’ affidavit of desistance during inquest proceedings.

He said plaintiffs Dennis Dayrit and Percival Tan earlier sought police assistance after they found out that FrancSwiss was not authorized to solicit investments since it is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Gatdula identified the suspects as Edwin Acena, Jeslie Tagle, Jonmayn Jayma, Rodolfo Mahilog and Angie Angeles. – Evelyn Macairan, Perseus Echeminada