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4 Chinese citizens arrested at alleged scam hub in Parañaque

Four Chinese citizens were arrested and multiple electronic gadgets were seized when National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents raided an alleged scam hub inside a condominium unit in Parañaque City on Wednesday. According to a ''24 Oras'' report by John Consulta on Friday, NBI agents from the Criminal Intelligence Division were serving an arrest warrant in one unit of the condo when they noticed suspicious activity coming from a nearby unit. Agents reportedly witnessed Chinese citizens throwing laptops and mobile phones out the window, prompting them to shift their attention to the adjacent room. 'Umikot yung ibang tropa doon sa may bintana, sa may gilid. Nakita namin may tinatapon ng mga laptop. Kaya nagtaka kami,' said NBI Assistant Director for Intelligence Service Noel Bocaling. (Some of our team members went to the side near the window. We saw laptops being thrown out, which raised our suspicions.) Upon entry into the unit, the agents discovered computers and electronic equipment allegedly used in online scamming operations. Scattered on the floor below the condo unit were laptops, cellphones, and tablets, which investigators believe was a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence. 'Positive kasi yung mga natirang hindi nila naibato, na masira, naabutan namin sa loob. They are indeed involved in scam operations,'' Bocaling said. (The devices they failed to destroy and that we recovered confirm they are indeed involved in scam operations.) Asked if data could still be retrieved from the damaged devices, Bocaling responded, 'Magta-try kami (We will try).'' 'Pagka makukuha namin yung mga nandodoon, malalaman natin kung sino mga naloko nila at kung ano-ano mga bansa.' (Once we retrieve the data, we can find out who their victims are and which countries were targeted.) The four arrested Chinese citizens are currently detained at the NBI facility and face charges under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act. They have declined to comment regarding their arrest. —Sherylin Untalan/VBL, GMA Integrated News