PCSO hunts down brains of lotto gang

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other law enforcement agencies is on hot track of the brains of a syndicate which allegedly swindles hundreds of lotto fans via the popular lotto games.

Israel Estrella, PCSO assistant general manager for corporate affairs, said the PCSO anti fraud committee submitted to the NBI vital information about key members of the syndicate which allegedly collects money ranging from P6,000 to P80,000 from their victims.

Estrella said the gang usually calls their prospective victims and informs them that they could win the jackpot price if they pay a certain amount as payment for the "lucky balls" to be used in the draw.

"They (want) to make it appear to their victims that lotto games can be manipulated," Estrella said.

He said the next step of the transaction is to make the victim deposit the money in a certain bank account and that would be last time the victim would hear from the gang members.

Over a hundred victims mostly businessmen from Ilocos to Davao City has filed their complaint with the PCSO since the gang began its operation last year.

A businessman from Olongapo lost at least P80,000 for a supposed P80 million lotto winnings while a prominent businessman from Davao City paid P25,000 for the supposed lucky number combinations.

Verification made by the PCSO in various banks where the money of the victims were deposited showed that accounts used to belong to the following Aireen Arevalo, James Torres Bano, Romeo Go, Raylen Cilos, Jack Ramos, Claire Maglalang, Jessa Robles, Lolita Daguman and Gerry Manipol.

The Bankers Association of the Philippines has warned its members as early October last year on the operations of the group.

One of the documented account was opened by certain Raymond Ong Martinez a walk-in client in one the banks in Manila. Upon verification however it was found that the same person opened a bank account a day before in Visayas Ave. branch of the said bank in Quezon City.

Shortly before the account was opened two of the bank’s clients were informed that they won the 6/42 Visayas Mindanao lotto draw however, to be able to claim their price, they must deposit a certain amount in the account of Martinez.

Estrella said that a certain Edgar Yap also allegedly used another name, Rodolfo Paz Ong, in opening an account where the money of the victims were deposited.

In Midsayap, North Cotabato, the Philippine National Bank branch reported that an account in the name of Juan Miguel Altavas was held after it received report that it was used in enticing lotto patrons to deposit certain amounts in exchange for lotto winnings.