Investment scam suspect claims ties with BOC

MANILA, Philippines - A man accused of perpetrating an investment scam had been claiming to have connections with the Bureau of Customs to convince potential targets, some of his alleged victims said yesterday.

The five victims, all agents of the direct selling firm “Royale,” claimed to have lost money worth around P6 million when they went to Camp Karingal yesterday after hearing news of Peter James Abarico’s arrest on Thursday.

Even Abarico was supposedly a former agent at the same direct selling group.

The victims claimed Abarico had convinced them into producing money to be used in an investment venture with the BOC.

Abarico was arrested by the Makati City police on Wednesday afternoon.

Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban had said the suspect would tell his victims he was a middleman for a government contractor in need of borrowing funds for its projects.

Lukban had earlier declined to name the government agency involved.