Latest news with #JohnConsulta
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GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
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
GMA Network
22-05-2025
- GMA Network
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
GMA Network
16-05-2025
- GMA Network
10 Chinese nabbed in small-scale scam hub in Bataan
Ten Chinese nationals were arrested in Bataan for allegedly operating a small-scale scam hub in residential houses, according to a report by John Consulta on "24 Oras." Agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided at least three houses suspected of being used in online scamming activities. Inside, they found computers, electronic gadgets, and a satellite internet system believed to have been used to avoid detection by bypassing local internet providers. During the operation, the first Chinese national encountered by authorities had his phone confiscated on the spot. Several others were found hiding inside cabinets and closets as agents swept through the premises. According to NBI Intelligence Division Assistant Director Noel Bocaling, the suspects were former members of a larger Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) group. After the government dismantled a major POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga — the same one linked to controversial figure Alice Guo — some individuals fled and established smaller independent groups to continue their operations. 'Yung kaso ni Alice Guo at sa Porac na na-dismantle ng PAOCC, nung dinismantle nila yan, marami ang nakatakas. Nung tumakas, di na sila nag-amo, sila-sila ang nagcreate ng grupo-grupo nila. Yung mga cellphones na gamit nila doon nakatakip ang mga camera para di makita ng mga kausap nila,' Bocaling said. (When the PAOCC dismantled that site in Bamban in Alice Guo's case and in Porac, many escaped. After fleeing, they stopped working under a single boss and instead formed their own smaller networks. They even covered their phone cameras so their contacts wouldn't see them.) Authorities were tipped off after it was discovered that one of the houses rented by the group was owned by the child of a former NBI agent. A Chinese informant — who strongly opposes illegal cyber activities — also helped in gathering intelligence. 'Nagkamali sila dahil yung mayari ng inuupahan nila yung anak dating NBI agent. Ang asset natin diyan Chinese din na ayaw na ayaw na ganyan,' he added. (They made a mistake in choosing that house. Our asset in the area is also Chinese and refuses to tolerate scams like these.) The 10 arrested individuals face charges under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act and are currently under NBI custody. The investigation is ongoing to trace other possible scam hubs operating in the area. —Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News
