crime – Page 30 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo caught overseas, will be brought back to the Philippines

September 5, 2024September 4, 2024carlocarrasco

On the late evening of September 3 in Indonesia, the dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo got arrested by the local authorities and she will be brought back here in the Philippines very soon, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. For the newcomers reading this, Guo (AKA Guo Hua Ping) is wanted in the Philippines and there are charges of tax evasion and money laundering against her.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, in Tangerang City, Jakarta, Indonesia.

In a statement, the DOJ said Guo was apprehended at 11:58 p.m. on Sept. 3, according to Senior Superintendent Audie Latuheru of the Indonesian Police.

“This development has been verified by our counterparts in Immigration, who have confirmed that Ms. Guo is currently in the custody of the Indonesian Police at Jatanras Mabes Polri,” the DOJ said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla welcomed the development, saying Guo’s arrest is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies and the strength of international cooperation in bringing fugitives to justice.

“We will ensure that all legal processes are followed to hold her accountable for any crimes committed. The DOJ is committed to pursuing justice and will continue to coordinate closely with Indonesian authorities to facilitate the necessary legal procedures,” he said.

Guo is facing complaints about her alleged involvement in the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country and questions about her citizenship.

Despite being the subject of an immigration lookout bulletin due to the ongoing investigations, Guo was able to leave the country last July 18.

Guo reportedly headed to Malaysia, arrived in Singapore on July 21, and traveled to Indonesia on Aug. 18.

Guo’s sister, Shiela, and business associate Cassandra Li Ong were earlier arrested in Indonesia and already sent back to the Philippines.

During the Senate Subcommittee on Justice and Human Rights hearing, Shiela admitted she left the country with the dismissed mayor by boat.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is expecting the return of the dismissed mayor to the country anytime soon following her arrest in Indonesia.

“We have immediately forwarded the information to the Department of Justice and the Office of the Executive Secretary. The information has been confirmed by our immigration counterparts in Indonesia, and we are very happy with this development,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement.

The BI chief also believes Guo’s return to the Philippines will shed light on many questions about her illegal departure, as well as allow her to face the charges filed against her.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., welcomed the arrest of Guo and assured the public of the resolution of cases against her.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you expect Alice Guo to tell the truth once she gets questioned by government officials again after her anticipated return here in the Philippines? Do you think mainland China is somehow involved in secretly transporting Guo and companions from the Philippines to overseas?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

19 people arrested in Cavite for voice phishing and scamming, credit card applications found

September 5, 2024August 29, 2024carlocarrasco

After more than three months of surveillance on a house in Imus, Cavite, elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted a raid and arrested nineteen individuals for scamming and voice phishing, according to a GMA Network news report. Several charges have been filed against the suspects.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…

A rapper and his girlfriend vlogger were among the 19 individuals arrested during a raid in a voice phishing lair in Imus, Cavite.

In Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras” Thursday, authorities conducted a three-month surveillance on a house in Imus town before they conducted the operation. Several suspects attempted to escape resulting in a chase at the nearby farm.

According to the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group investigation, it’s been three months since the rapper was recruited into the scheme. The report said the rapper thought it was a legal business at first.

“Parang gusto na nila umalis kaso nasagawa na natin ang operasyon,” said PNP-ACG spokesperson Wallen Mae Arancillo.

(They were planning to get out of the group, but it’s too late as we have already conducted our operation.)

The PNP-ACG said that the couple could be having difficulty leaving the team because of the money.

“P5 million per week ang kinikita nila and I believe by percentage sila kung ilan ang tao na ma-scam nila (They earn P5 million a week and I believe are paid by percentage depending on the number of individuals they are able to scam).

Seized during the operation were credit card applications used by the suspect for the scam. There were also scripts found.

“Meron tayong nakausap na victim na imbes na panggamot sa anak nya sana ay na-scam, kaya namatay ito,” said Arancillo.

(One of the victims told us that his child died after he lost the money supposed to be used for the treatment through the scam.)

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Did you think there are still lots of groups of scammers still operating using voice phishing? Did you receive any phone calls from individuals claiming to be representatives of banks and credit card companies? Were there any members of your local community who got scammed?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Robbery attempt in Parañaque City foiled, one suspect arrested

September 3, 2024August 24, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, a security guard foiled a robbery attempt resulting in the arrest of one suspect and the recovery of the victim’s handbag, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The incident happened in Barangay Tambo and there are two other suspects still at large.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

A security guard successfully arrested one of the three suspects who tried to rob a woman in Parañaque City on Wednesday, August 21.

The Southern Police District (SPD) said the suspect identified as “Armando,” 44, was arrested at around 3:00 p.m. along Roxas Boulevard corner Bradco Avenue in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City.

Based on the police report, a 28-year-old woman had just got out from a taxi when she was approached by the suspects brandishing a handgun and forcibly took her handbag.

The security guard on-duty was then alerted by the victim’s shout and immediately responded leading to the arrest of Armando.

The hero guard recovered the victim’s handbag and a replica .45 caliber pistol from the suspect.

Meanwhile, his two other cohorts identified as “Kalapati” and “Norby” escaped. The police is now conducting a follow-up operation for the arrest of the two.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, did you notice any members of your local community who got robbed lately?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Woman hit by car in Parañaque City, suspect driver a Pakistani national

September 2, 2024August 26, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, a 49-year-old woman got hit by a car from behind resulting in very serious injuries, according to a GMA Network news report. The incident happened in Barangay Don Bosco and the suspect driver was described as a Pakistani national (click here and here). A video of the incident can be viewed by clicking here.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…

A 49-year-old woman was seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident while walking to work as a laundry woman in Don Bosco, Parañaque last week.

Victim Loida Faustino was seen in CCTV footage walking along Levitown Avenue last Friday morning, August 23, 2024, when she was hit by a red vehicle that fled the scene after the incident. She was immediately brought to a nearby hospital.

“Grabe po ‘yung nangyari sa kanya. Bali po ‘yung tuhod, kamay, katawan, ulo (What happened to her is severe. She had broken knees, hands, in the body, and in the head),” the victim’s brother Arnold Faustino said in a report by Nico Waje on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

The family is seeking justice for what happened, and for the suspect — only identified as a Pakistani — to take responsibility.

“May anak ‘yun. Hindi makakapagtrabaho ‘yun. Hindi puwedeng hindi siya managot sa nangyari na ‘yun, (She has a child and she will not be able to work. The suspect has to take responsibility for what happened)” the victim’s brother-in-law Samuel Celzo said in the same report.

According to Barangay Don Bosco Chairman Mar Jimenez, the suspect was immediately apprehended after the incident.

“Upon apprehension, medyo meron siyang alcohol breath so lumalabas na (Upon apprehension, his breath smelled slightly of alcohol. So it shows that he was) under the influence of liquor,” he said.

However, the local police said medical examinations and a breathalyzer analysis gave negative results.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, would you know if anyone from your local community witnessed any hit-and-run incidents that happened over the past six months?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Several counts of money laundering filed against dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo and others

September 1, 2024August 30, 2024carlocarrasco

Dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo – who went overseas undetected by immigration authorities and remains out of reach – and others got charged for multiple counts of money laundering, according to a GMA Network news report. The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) are the complainants.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…

A total of 87 counts of money laundering were filed against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and 35 others at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday about the raided POGO hubs in Bamban and Porac, Pampanga.

In a press conference, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Deputy Director Adrian Arpon said that the cases involved around P7 billion.

“We have included Alice Guo. Based on our findings, she is the principal in the money laundering committed in this case. She used several entities in transferring her money. It went to an entity,” Arpon said.

“Ultimately, it ended up with Baofu to pay, among others, electric bills,” he added.

The complainants are the AMLC, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

Named respondents are Guo; Shiela Guo, the former mayor’s purported sister; Cassandra Li Ong, the authorized representative of the Porac POGO hub; and former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, among others.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Did you think the government and its strategic partners overseas will be able to find Alice Guo very soon?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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BIR task force raids vape festival in Las Piñas City, seizes over 5,000 illicit vape products

August 27, 2024August 19, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, a task force of the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) raided a vape festival and seized more than five thousand illicit vape products, according a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) Illicit Trade Task Force raided Sunday the Philippine Vape Festival 2024 in Las Piñas City and confiscated illicit vape products.

In a statement, BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said surveillance of the event confirmed that there were vape products without internal revenue stamps.

“The illicit vape being displayed in this festival shows the brazen attitude of the vape industry against the proper taxation of vape products. They even organized a festival filled with illicit vape. The full strength of the BIR Illicit Trade Task Force will be deployed against this industry,” Lumagui said.

About 5,385 illicit vape products have been seized. The inventory of the illicit vape products confiscated during the festival is still ongoing but the BIR said the initial estimate of tax liabilities is at least PHP7 million.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you concerned that there could be more illicit vape products being sold in local stores? Are many members of your local community involved in the vape trade? Do you think the vape festival organizers will be held accountable for the presence of illicit vape products?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Transgendered woman arrested in Cavite for sharing nude images of former partner

August 26, 2024August 16, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the province of Cavite, police officers arrested a transgendered woman (transwoman) for sharing nude images of a former partner to many people (the friends and relatives of the victim), according to a GMA Network news report. The arrest was the result of successful entrapment operation.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…

A transwoman was arrested in Cavite for sharing nude photos of her former partner to his friends and relatives, the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) said on Friday.

In a statement, the ACG said the suspect identified as alias “Jerica” was arrested in an entrapment operation in a drive-in hotel in Bacoor City on Tuesday evening.

The victim said he and the 22-year-old suspect engaged in video calls and exchanged explicit photos and videos, according to the police.

“After their relationship ended in July 2024, the suspect retaliated by sharing the intimate contents with the victim’s friends and relatives,” the NCRPO said.

“The suspect then demanded a meet-up with the victim promising to delete the compromising materials only if he would agree to have sexual intercourse at a hotel,” it added.

Due to this, the suspect is facing complaints for grave coercion under the Revised Penal Code and violation of Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009 in relation to Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

“Avoid sending explicit photos or videos to anyone, as it could be exploited against you,” ACG chief Police Brigadier General Ronnie Francis Cariaga said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think criminal activities involving transgendered people are bound to multiply nationwide? Are many members of your local community identifying as transgendered people? Do you think that gay pride or “Happy Pride” celebrations are distorting the youth’s perception about morality?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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A Look Back at RoboCop 2 #2 (1990)

August 23, 2024August 15, 2024carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1990 to take a close look at the 2^nd part of the comic book adaptation of the movie RoboCop 2 (1990).

In my previous retro review of Robocop 2 #1, I pointed out that the comic book was not a faithful adaptation of the movie but more of the creators’ creative interpretation of the movie script they had which resulted in a stylized presentation. It was a surprisingly enjoyable reading experience for me.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at RoboCop 2 #2, published in 1990 by Marvel with a story written by Alan Grant and drawn by Mark Bagley based on the movie screenplay by Frank Miller and Walon Green.

Early story

The story begins in Detroit with RoboCop reduced into a very bad condition with most of his parts missing. The cops are still on strike and the ultra-addicting drug Nuke continues to spread through the city causing social problems. Cain and his gang are still on the loose, and his video statement (which emphasizes his gang’s defeat of RoboCop) spreads through the news cycles.

Inside a hideout, Cain and his loyal companions terrify and killed traitorous police officer Duffy for betraying them. Meanwhile at police headquarters, the support crew bumps heads with the Omni Consumer Products (OCP) executive who does not see RoboCop’s poor state as a problem. As far as OCP is concerned, getting replacement parts for RoboCop is very expensive.

Over at OCP, the psychologist executive Dr. Juliette Faxx begins researching criminals for the new RoboCop project…

Quality

*The motorized encounter between RoboCop and Cain here is shorter and much inferior compared to what the movie showed.*

As with issue #1, this comic book followed the events and scenes of the film but left enough room for the creative team to make their stylized version suitable with the literary format. Mark Bagley, who is best known for drawing Spider-Man and Venom in the 1990s, came up with nice artwork that brought Grant’s script to life. There were a few shots here that were pretty graphic or brutal to see at the time of publication which makes me wonder why did the Comics Code Authority (CCA) give its approval to this comic book.

Without spoiling the plot, I can say that the creative team and editor Gregory Wright did a good job adapting scenes of the movie script to (fill up the pages) while also succeeding in setting up readers for the final conflict in the 3^rd and final issue.

As a standalone reading material, this comic book will lead readers deep into the crisis of the police force as well as into the developments behind the closed doors of OCP. Due to the selected scenes of the film’s script, RoboCop has sufficient presence but lacked his normal personality. That being said, the movie’s comedic look of RoboCop acting very out-of-touched (hint: OCP tampered with his mind digitally) did not translate well into literary format. If you’re hoping to see solid storytelling with a consistent tone, you won’t find it here.

When it comes to action, there is just enough of it to keep the reading experience entertaining. Again, this comic book does not have the final conflict and the selected action scenes are rather limiting in terms of impact. If you want to see the police raid of the Nuke facility as well as RoboCop’s motorized chase with Cane, you are better off replaying the movie.

Conclusion

*There definitely is something wrong with RoboCop here.*

Considering the selected movie script scenes for adaptation, RoboCop 2 #2 (1990) lacks impact compared to the first issue. In fairness, this comic book was clearly meant to set-up readers for the next issue. If there is anything worth looking at within the 2^nd issue’s pages, it would be the details that were highlighted during the internal developments at OCP and the police. As mentioned earlier, RoboCop is not his usual self for a significant portion of this comic book. While the engagement and fun factor are lower this time around, I’m still interested to read the next issue.

Overall, RoboCop 2 #2 (1990) is serviceable.

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Foreign fugitive arrested in Parañaque City

August 23, 2024August 14, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, a team composed of the local police, Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives and members of the Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) of the Republic of Korea for fraud in South Korea arrested a wanted Korean national, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

A Korean national was arrested by combined personnel of the Parañaque City Police BF Homes substation, Bureau of Immigration (BI), and Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) of the Republic of Korea for fraud in South Korea.

The Southern Police District (SPD) identified the suspect as “Park,” 33 who was arrested at around 1:30 p.m. along Manrea St., BF Homes, Parañaque City.

Park was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office and Hong Sung District Court for fraud of Article 347 in violation of the criminal act and telecommunications business act of the Republic of Korea.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think there could be more foreign fugitives who could be living within your local community?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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NBI operatives arrest 5 foreigners and 24 locals in Cavite for involvement in varied scams

August 22, 2024August 13, 2024carlocarrasco

The campaign against scammers made a notable achievement recently as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives arrested five foreigners and twenty-four locals in Cavite for their involvement in different kinds of scams, according to a GMA Network news report. It turns out, the scammers were a splintered group of a certain Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…

Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have arrested five foreigners and 24 Filipinos in Cavite for involvement in various types of scams.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, NBI director Jaime Santiago said the NBI-Cybercrime Division caught the foreigners, composed of three Chinese nationals and two Malaysian nationals, and the Filipinos in the act in a subdivision in Kawit.

“These 24 Filipinos are working with them para mag-commit ng [to commit] romance scam, investment scam, cryptoscams, impersonation scams, and… credential stopping. They are supervised by these foreigners,” Santiago said.

Meanwhile, NBI Cybercrime Division Chief Atty. Jeremy Lotoc said this was a splintered group of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub.

Instead of operating in an office, he said the group has shifted to residential units.

“From different departments, from different locations, and purpose nila sa compartmentalization na ito is to avoid exposure or detection from law enforcement,” Lotoc said.

(From different departments, from different locations, the purpose of their compartmentalization is to avoid exposure or detection from law enforcement.)

“So meron silang administration department, may operation department, may finance and money laundering department. Makikita niyo ‘yung nakaraang week, ‘yun ho ‘yung nahuli natin through entrapment, ‘yung operation nila is more on finance and laundering. Ito naman ngayon, ito purely operation,” he added.

(So they have an administration department, an operation department, a finance and money laundering department. You can see that the ones we arrested last week through entrapment, their operation is more on finance and laundering. This time, this is purely operational.)

Lotoc said he also believes that the group still has a “big boss.” He declined to give further details, saying that the NBI’s follow-up operation is ongoing.

Lotoc said they also discovered a “scam show room” filled with high-end products and luxury items, meant to create an illusion for victims.

“Doon ho nahu-hook yung ating mga kababayan at ibang mga foreign victims kasi they are believing na yung kausap nila is kaya silang payamanin din,” he said.

(That is what hooks our countrymen and the other foreign victims because they believe that the one they are talking to can make them rich.)

The NBI recovered pre-registered SIM cards, GCash accounts, computers, devices containing scripts, cellphones, and textplus machines, among others, during the operation.

Lotoc said the arrested individuals were charged under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA). He also appealed to the public to stop being involved in such scams.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that there could more splintered groups from POGOs that could secretly operating in residential communities? Do you think that scammers could be hiding in your local community right now?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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