NBI nabs ‘leader’ of investment scam

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Authorities here arrested the alleged leader of a Manila-based investment company in an entrapment operation, Tuesday night.

Nabbed was Jorge Obenita III of San Mateo, Rizal, who was identified as the alleged chairman of Juan Pinoy Marketing Ventures, Inc., which operates in Manila, Cebu, and Bacolod.

Obenita was arrested at a restaurant along Lacson Street, this city, after he received the P4,000 grease money from an agent of the National Bureau of Investigation who acted as an investor. 

NBI investigator Aries Bañares said the operation stemmed from the complaints lodged by five persons, who asked not to be named, against the suspect.

The complainants allegedly invested a total of P431,700 to the company of Obenita, with the promise of large earnings if they start investing P1,000 each to sell soap and other beauty products, while recruiting other members. The complainants claimed they were never paid with the promised earnings, said the NBI agent.

Bañares said the company, which is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is not authorize to engage in solicitation of investment and taking activity from public investors.

Obenita, who is now detained at the NBI detention cell, was charged with large scale estafa and for violations of Republic Act 8799 or the Securities Regulation Code, before the City Prosecutor’s Office, Wednesday afternoon, along with four others.

Also charged were Jonathan Jesus Navea of Cubao, Quezon City; Lorena Caronan of Marikina City; Susan Aquino of Caloocan City, and Evelyn Gudio also of Caloocan City.

Obenita had denied all the charges against him.  (FREEMAN)