Alleged members of Japanese syndicate fall —BI
Operatives from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested high-profile targets who were allegedly part of a Japanese crime syndicate.
According to a "24 Oras" report by John Consulta on Thursday, military intelligence groups and the BI Fugitive Search Unit nabbed the suspects after months of surveillance and staging separate operations in Manila and Bulacan.
'Medyo naging challenging itong operation natin na ito, kasi nga sinusubukan nating makuha yung seven na mga subject natin. Nung maconfirm natin ang mga suspect nila, agad tayong nakipagtulungan sa San Jose del Monte police station at sa Ermita police station upang pasukin ang kanilang pinagtataguan,' said BI Fugitive Search Unit head Rendel Sy.
(This operation became challenging because we were trying to get our seven subjects. When we confirmed that these were our suspects, we immediately coordinated with the San Jose del Monte police station and the Ermita police station to raid their hideout.)
BI shared that the suspects were allegedly part of JP Dragon Syndicate, which was considered one of the biggest crime groups in Japan.
'Itong grupo na ito na nahuli natin ay isa sa mga JP Dragon Syndicate na matagal nang nagtatago at nagooperate dito sa atin ng kanilang telecom fraud syndicate. Sinasabi din na itong grupong ito, karamihan sa mga leader nila ay mga former Yakuza. So, maoobserbahan natin yung dynamics ng grupo nila ay very similar sa Yakuza. Ang Luffy Group syndicate ay mula din sa grupo na ito,' Sy added.
(This group we've caught is one of the JP Dragon syndicates that have long evaded arrest and operated their telecom fraud syndicate here. Most of their leaders were formerly part of the Yakuza. We can observe that their dynamics are very similar to the Yakuza. The Luffy Group syndicate came from this group, too.)
The syndicate was said to run scam operations targeting senior citizens in Japan, which sometimes led to physical harm to their victims.
'Sila ang nagtitimon ng mga gagawin ng mga actors nila sa Japan, kung saan papasukin ang mga bahay ng matatanda, kukunin yung mga ATM cards, at doon uumpisahan ang mga pagnanakaw. Napakamahalaga na mahuli natin at mapadeport [sila] sa Japan. Hindi malayong magkaroon at malocalize din yung market nila at magkaroon sila ng mga Filipino na cohorts, at eventually magkaroon din po ng Pilipino na biktima… 'Yun po yung iniiwasan natin,' Sy added.
(They are instructing their actors in Japan on what to do, which senior homes they should break into, steal their ATM cards, and start serial robberies there. It's very important that we catch them and deport [them] back to Japan. It's not impossible that their markets would become localized and they will start getting Filipino cohorts, and eventually have Filipino victims… That is what we're trying to avoid.)
The suspects are now detained at the BI detention facility in Bicutan. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
9 hours ago
- GMA Network
Tindig Pilipinas blasts ‘cowardly' Senate for impeachment trial delay
The senators are being cowardly in their hesitation to convene as a court for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, a coalition of pro-democracy groups said on Wednesday. 'Ang walang katapusang pagpapaliban sa impeachment ay lantarang senyales na duwag na manindigan at pabaya sa responsibilidad ang karamihan ng ating mga senador. Talo ang lahat dahil dito,' Tindig Pilipinas said in a statement, after Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said the impeachment trial is up to discretion of the senators via a plenary vote, even though the Constitution provides that the Senate impeachment trial 'should forthwith proceed' once a verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the members of the House. (The endless delay is a clear sign that many of our senators are too cowardly to make a stand and are derelict in their duty. We are all on the losing end here.) The Tindig Pilipinas coalition, composed of groups including the Akbayan party-list, the ML party-list, the Magdalo party-list, the Buhay ang People Power Campaign Network, and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, said that Duterte herself also loses in the delay. 'Talo ang akusado na binabawian ng pagkakataong ipagtanggol ang kanyang sarili. Talo ang mga biktima ng katiwalian na binabawian ng pagkakataong makakamit ng hustisya,' it added. (It is a loss for the accused who is deprived of the opportunity to clear her name, and it is a loss for the victims of corruption who are being denied their shot at justice.) The House impeached the Vice President on February 5, accusing her of betrayal of public trust; culpable violation of the Constitution; graft and corruption; and other high crimes, mainly over the alleged misuse of around P612.5 million worth of confidential funds, as well as declaring that she had arranged for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., his wife Liza and Speaker Martin Romualdez to be assassinated if she were killed. 'Kung gaanong kalinaw ang mga krimen ng ating bise-presidente, ganitong kalinaw rin ang pagbabalewala ng liderato ng senado sa Konstitusyon, sa pera ng bayan, at sa halaga ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino,' the group said. (The Senate's leadership of discarding the Constitution, public funds, and the value of every Filipino's life is just as clear as the Vice President's crimes.) The Filipino people, the group said, deserves to see the evidence against the Vice President, who received her mandate to serve from them. 'Simpleng pagkakataong magpakita ng ebidensya ang hinihiling natin. Sa tingin namin, mapapatunayan ng ebidensya na si Vice President Duterte ay nangurakot, naglustay ng pera ng DepEd sa gitna ng isang krisis sa edukasyon, at nagbaba ng bantang karahasan at pagpatay,' the group said. (What we are simply asking is for them to let the evidence be presented because once that is done, it will prove that the Vice President is guilty of corruption, that she wasted DepEd's money amid the education crisis, and that she issued violent threats, including killing.) 'Nasa konsensya na lang ng ating mga senador kung tama o mali ang mga ito. Bumabawi ang mamamayang talo. Ang leksyon ng nakaraang halalan ay wala nang pasensya ang botante para sa mga pultikong walang prinsipyo o paninindigan. Kaya ngayon, simple ang panawagan ng Tindig Plipinas sa mga Senador: Simulan na ang pagdinig sa impeachment. Malakas ang ebidensya. Litisin na si Sara [Duterte],'it added. (It is up to the senators' conscience if these acts are right or wrong. Anyway, the people at the losing end will come back to haunt them. The lesson we learned in the last elections is that voters do not tolerate public officials who don't stand up for anything. So that is why our call is for the Senate to start the trial. The evidence is strong. Put Sara on trial.) Escudero said on Wednesday that the House cannot dictate on the Senate. He also denied protecting the Vice President. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
11 hours ago
- GMA Network
NBI, BI arrest Korean fugitive staying in PH for nearly 6 years
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have arrested an individual wanted in Korea for fraud amounting to 10 million Korean won, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said Wednesday. According to Santiago, the NBI conducted the operation after the Organized and Transnational Crime Division (OTCD) received a communication from Korea in 2023 that the man is wanted in their country. "From then on, with the help of our Immigration, they started looking for this guy. Finally, they were able to get an asset na naituro na... nandyan lang pala [yung subject] sa Malate," Santiago said in a press briefing. (From then on, with the help of our Immigration, they started looking for this guy. Finally, they were able to get an asset who gave a tip that the subject was actually just in Malate.) According to Santiago, the NBI's manhunt operation for other fugitives referred by the Korean Embassy to the Philippine government is ongoing. "Isa lamang siya sa list (He is only one of the names on the list). Actually, this is the second arrest natin of Korean national who are fugitives from our country," he said. BI Deputy Spokesperson Melvin Mabulac said that based on travel records, the man arrived in the country in July 2019, classifying him as an overstaying alien. "Wala siyang ginawang any attempt to extend the status, 'yung Immigration status. That's why it's very violative sa Immigration Law. Overstaying siya. At the same manner din, marami siyang kaso dito at it would warrant the filing of undesirability and puwede siya ma-deport," Mabulac said. (He made no attempt to extend his immigration status. That's why it's a clear violation of Immigration Law. He's overstaying. At the same time, he has many cases here, which would warrant the filing of undesirability and he can be deported.) To prevent such cases, Mabulac said the BI has implemented an advanced passenger information system, which connects the country's system to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). "Upon mag-submit sila ng kanilang manifest, wala pa sa ating bansa, there's already an advanced vetting. And we are on the stage wherein ang limang airlines ngayon ang connected," he said (Upon submitting their manifest, even before they arrive in our country, there's already an advanced vetting. And we are at the stage where five airlines are now connected.) Meanwhile, NBI-OTCD chief Jerome Bomediano said the fugitive has been charged with estafa, falsification of public documents, malicious mischief, grave threat, damage to property, and human trafficking before Philippine courts. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
15 hours ago
- GMA Network
SC advocates for protection of children vs. sexual abuse, exploitation
The Supreme Court (SC) announced Wednesday its collaboration with SaferKidsPH, an Australian government initiative, to protect Filipino children against online sexual abuse and exploitation (OSAEC). At the SaferKidsPH Culminating Event on Tuesday, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo described SaferKidsPH as a 'beacon of hope' in the campaign against OSAEC. He said the SC will continue to 'hold the door open to a better tomorrow for every FIlipino child. Gesmundo also highlighted the High Court's efforts to strengthen judicial framework for child protection, including the establishment of an Anti-OSAEC TriCity Justice Zone in Cagayan de Oro City, Ozamis City, and Iligan City. 'As we celebrate these achievements, we recognize that our work is far from complete,' Gesmundo was quoted as saying in a statement. 'The Supreme Court remains steadfast in its commitment to this cause, collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure that every child is protected from harm, both in the digital realm and beyond,' he added. The SC said the event also involved the Department of Justice, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Council for the Welfare of Children, among other organizations. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
