357 foreigners nabbed for online fraud

MANILA, Philippines - At least 357 foreigners, mostly Taiwanese and Chinese nationals, were rounded up yesterday in Rizal province and Metro Manila for online fraud.

Elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission carried out the arrests in what is touted to be largest single-day operation against organized crime in the country.

CIDG chief Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said a total of 20 search warrants were simultaneously served in residential units and subdivisions in Quezon City, Manila, Marikina, and Cainta and Antipolo City in Rizal yesterday morning.

Senior Superintendent Federico Castro, CIDG deputy chief for administration, said at least 100 personnel from three CIDG offices were involved in the operation that lasted for about two hours.

Among those arrested were Filipino-Chinese Maria Luisa Tan and Johnson Tan Co, tagged as the financiers of the syndicate.

Pagdilao said all the suspects were brought to the Police National Training Institute at Camp Vicente Lim in Canlubang, Laguna where cases for violation of the Access Device Regulation Act are being readied against them.

Pagdilao said members of the syndicate pretended to represent police, prosecutors, courts and insurance firms who told their victims that their bank accounts were being used for money laundering and terrorist financing.

He said the victims were pressured to transfer their money to an account provided by the syndicate.