For alleged scam: NBI-7 raids investment firm

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — National Bureau of Investigation-Region 7 agents Thursday night raided the business office of Klikmart Shopping Club Corp, also known as Klikmart Rewards, in this city, for alleged violations of Republic Act 8799 or the Securities Regulation Code.

The NBI-7 men from Cebu City, led by Agapito Gierran, carried out the raid based on a search warrant issued last September 3 by vice executive Judge Leo Moises Lison of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 3 of Tagbilaran.

In issuing the warrant, Lison said “there is probable cause that violation, defined and penalized under sections 8 and 28 in relation to sec. 73 of RA 8799 and RA 9165, has been committed by Klikmart Shopping Club Corp.”

The law enforcers confiscated sales invoices, membership forms, ledgers and other financial documents, over P1.6 million cash, four units of closed-circuit television, three computer sets, advertising manuals and flyers, among others, which were part of the alleged investment scam of the company.

One of the members of Klikmart Rewards, who was present after the raid but did not identify herself, said the manager of Klikmart was a certain Rommel Juaton, who was from San Miguel town but was not present when the warrant was served.

The member, along with the others, appeared defending Kilkmart saying that they had benefited from the company through a fast return of their initial investment of P1.500 by getting in return at least P15,000 twice a month since the firm opened last July 11.

The city government had issued to Klikmart mayor’s permit and sanitary permit to operate the sale of groceries (non-essentials) and rice and corn (essentials).— Ric V. Obedencio and Angeline Valencia (FREEMAN)