Department of Justice (DOJ) – Page 2

Arrest warrant against suspended Bamban mayor Alice Guo anticipated

August 9, 2024August 7, 2024carlocarrasco

A warrant of arrest against suspended Bamban mayor Alice Guo is expected to be issued as the human trafficking case was submitted for resolution by the Department of Justice (DOJ) which is related with her non-participation in recent investigations, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. It should be remembered that Guo’s fingerprints matched those who Guo Hua Ping.

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

A senator is expecting that a warrant of arrest will soon be issued against suspended Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo after her human trafficking case was submitted for resolution by the Department of Justice (DOJ) following her non-appearance in the preliminary investigations.

Being submitted for resolution, the case will now be decided by prosecutors on whether to lodge it before the courts on the basis solely of the complainant’s allegations, according to the DOJ.

“Since she did not personally show up nor file her counter affidavit, she will mostly like be liable for human trafficking which is a non-bailable offense,” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian told reporters in a Viber message.

“A warrant of arrest will ensue on this particular case,” he added.

Gatchalian earlier advised Guo to appear and address the various cases against her, including human trafficking, birth certificate cancellation, and disobedience to summons.

The Senate issued an arrest order against Guo last July 11 after failing to attend two hearings related to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub raided in her municipality before the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.

She also failed to attend the three hearings on the human trafficking cases filed before the DOJ.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the anticipated issuance of the warrant of arrest will compel suspended mayor Guo to come out from hiding and turn herself in? Do you wish that the warrant of arrest will be issued within the next two weeks?

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

Suspended Bamban mayor Alice Guo and others charged for alleged human trafficking

June 22, 2024June 21, 2024carlocarrasco

The controversial and suspended Bamban mayor Alice Guo along with others were formally charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for alleged human trafficking in connection with the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Tarlac, according to a GMA Network news report.

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

In complaints filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ), Guo, former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, and 12 officers and incorporators were charged with violation of Sections 4 and 6 of Republic Act (RA) 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 as amended by RA 10364, as further amended by RA 11862.

Among the respondents are Guo’s alleged business partner Huang Zhiyang, who is a fugitive in China, and Zhang Ruijin and Baoying Li, two individuals who are involved in the biggest money laundering case in Singapore.

Guo was also referred to as “a.k.a Guo Hua Ping” in the complaint.

GMA News Online has sought comment from the camps of Guo and Cunanan but they have yet to reply as of posting time.

Evidence – The complainants are the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

“Lumabas na mga ebidensya dito tulad ng fact na siya ang nag apply doon sa dating [letter of no objection] from the local government. Lumabas din ang kanyang involvement doon sa lesser company,” Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking chairperson and Justice Undersecretary Nicky Ty said in a briefing.

(There is evidence such as the fact that she applied the letter of no objection from the local government. Her involvement in the lesser company was also noted.)

“At kasama rin yung ibang ebidensya diyan katulad nung pangalan niya na lumulutang sa mga sabi-sabing document na nahanap sa POGO compound,” he added.

(There is also other evidence such as her name appearing in many documents in the POGO compound.)

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Benjamin Samson said authorities believe that Cunanan is part of a “grand conspiracy.”

“We discovered that the Zun Yuan operation actually started with one corporation which was Baofu, and then another corporation was created. All these three corporations, we believe that they are part of a grand conspiracy to commit labor trafficking,” Samson said.

“In one of the corporations, we found a document wherein the name of Mr. Dennis Cunanan appeared. After piecing together the pieces of evidence, we concluded and we decided that he is part of the grand conspiracy to commit labor trafficking,” he added.

Earlier, Senator Risa Hontiveros showed documents where Cunanan had introduced himself as the “authorized representative” for the Hong Sheng POGO in Bamban and the Lucky South POGO in Porac.

Other Complaints – According to Ty, the DOJ is now processing the Immigration Lookout Bulletin against Guo, which may be issued next week.

“Hindi naman natin matatanggi na kahit sinong makasuhan ng kriminal ay may flight risk, lalo na kung may resources ito mangibang bansa. Ngunit ito naman kay Mayor Guo, hopefully, no hindi naman siya lilipad dahil siya mismo at ang kanyang mga representatives ang nag sabi na nais niyang harapin ang mga alegasyon laban sa kanya,” he said.

(Anyone charged with a crime is a flight risk, especially if he they have resources to go abroad. Hopefully, she will not leave as her representatives said that he wants to face the allegations against him.)

Aside from this, Ty said Guo cannot travel without a travel authority as a public official.

Ty said that “there is a possibility” that other complaints may be filed against Guo and others.

POGO – Guo was placed under investigation for her alleged links to the 10-hectare POGO compound that was raided in March for alleged illegal activities that include crypto and love scams.

Earlier in June, the Department of the Interior and Local Government filed graft charges against Guo with the Office of the Ombudsman, prompting it to suspend her for up to six months.

Guo’s identity as a Filipino is also under question before the Senate.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has questioned whether Chinese passport holder Guo Hua Ping is Guo after he presented records from the Board of Investments of the Guo family’s application for a Special Investors Resident Visa.

The documents showed Guo Hua Ping entered the Philippines on January 12, 2003 when she was still 13 years old and her registered mother is Lin Wenyi, the same woman who was alleged to be the mayor’s mother.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that the mayor of Bamban is indeed connected or responsible with the human trafficking that happened at the raided Bamban POGO? Are you concerned that there could be a POGO operating in your locality and criminal activities are being done secretly? If there is a POGO in your locality, did you notice a rise in crime incidents?

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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Two CPP-NPA members charged for financing terrorism

April 8, 2024March 27, 2024carlocarrasco

Two members of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) were charged for financing terrorism and the Department of Justice (DOJ) claims it found compelling evidence against the suspects, according to 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 Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said it found compelling evidence to indict two members of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) responsible for collecting revolutionary funds and financing terrorism.

Following information gathered by the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), accused Leonor Taguinod Dumlao and Valentin Cruz Tolentino will be charged with violation of Section 8 of R.A. No. 10168, known as “The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.”

The charges will be filed before the Batangas City regional trial court, the DOJ said in a statement.

The two were originally arrested under Oplan Paglalansag in Mindoro Oriental and Rizal in August 2023.

According to reports, the two accused possessed firearms and ammunition with no definite source of income or apparent purpose, prompting authorities to initiate background checks and collaborate with intelligence counterparts from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) to ask the court’s issuance of search warrants against the two.

Authorities discovered firearms, ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), IED components, and a significant sum of money.

Dumlao and Tolentino, the DOJ said, are alleged members of the National Finance Commission (NFC) of the CPP/NPA which had direct involvement in demanding money from construction firms, telecommunication companies, bus companies, mining companies, and businessmen in the guise of “revolutionary taxes.”

The two were also allegedly responsible for the creation of the National Economic Striking Force (NESF) of the CPP/NPA, which serves as security of the “Rebolusyonaryong Buwis sa Kaaway na Uri” or the RBKU.

“We will never let even an inch of terrorism’s tyranny sow fear among our citizens, much more let the cowards behind this menace run free. This is a time when we Filipinos should fortify our resolve and show our resilience in fighting this evil,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there are several Communists here in the Philippines who are secretly financing terrorism, smuggling weapons and plotting chaos? Do you think the young leftist activists living in your local community could secretly be agents of the CPP/NPA?

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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Tourist spots in New Bilibid Prison?

April 5, 2024March 26, 2024carlocarrasco

If plans between the different authorities indeed push through, then it would mean that tourist spots inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City will be realized, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

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

Plans are afoot to convert historical sites inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa into possible tourist sites following a Monday meeting between Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. and Muntinlupa City Mayor Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon.

During the meeting attended by officials from BuCor, the Department of Justice, and the city government, Catapang assured his full support to revive the Muntinlupa’s economy through tourism, the BuCor said in a statement on Tuesday.

Included in the circuit tours inside the NBP being eyed by the Muntinlupa City Tourism Culture and Arts Department are: Kiyosi Oshawa Shrine / Memorial for Peace Shrine; the Jamboree Lake, the smallest lake in the Philippines; Director’s Quarters – Presently the official residence of the Bureau of Corrections Director General; Lethal injection and Death Chamber, which has since been mothballed following the suspension of the death penalty; Japanese Cemetery, a garden cemetery located inside the NBP Reservation Compound dedicated to the Japanese Soldiers who died in Muntinlupa; Memorial Hill, the burial place of Major Eriberto B. Misa Sr. which served as a tribute to the former Bureau of Prison Director for his 12 years of service, making him the longest-serving prison director up to this date.

The government earlier announced plans to decongest the overpopulated penal facility and convert it into a high-value multi-use development once the inmates are relocated to other facilities throughout the country by 2028.

In November last year, prison officials said an open park at the heart of Metro Manila similar to Central Park in New York, is among the components of the plan by the BuCor to develop the NBP.

Catapang said that Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla’s vision for the property is to turn a 100-hectare lot of the more than 350 hectares of NBP into an open park, while the remaining area will be for a mixed-use space to house a government center, and lease parts to private entities to generate funds for the national government.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you see any potential benefit of establishing tourist spots inside the NBP?

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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Luxury cars, villas, tunnels and more found inside raided POGO in Tarlac

April 1, 2024March 19, 2024carlocarrasco

As I was browsing news of national interest, I came upon a news report by GMA Network related to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in the municipality of Bamban, Tarlac province that was already raided by local authorities. Beyond the raid, the authorities uncovered luxury cars, villas and even tunnels inside the facility.

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

A swimming pool, several tunnels and luxury cars were among the discoveries inside a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub that was allegedly used for illegal activities by scammers in Bamban, Tarlac.

In an exclusive report from Saleema Refran on 24 Oras, the 10-hectare Zun Yuan Technology complex that was raided by a joint team of Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had more than just offices and dormitories.

There were also villas that were reportedly reserved for high ranking officials and VIPs as well as an (Olympic)-sized swimming pool.

Aside from allegations of scams, human trafficking and illegal detention, the compound was also hiding other secrets.

There is a network of tunnels underneath the villas. Authorities said the tunnels led outside the compound.

PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio said the underground passageways might have been used by other suspects to make good their escape.

“Posible kasi na yung mga nakatakas ay dumaan po sa underground tunnels. Mayroon kasing open na mga gates doon sa ibang tunnels pwedeng doon sila nagtakasan.

(It’s possible those who escaped underground. There were open gates in some of the tunnels.)

Inside the villas were expensive furniture and appliances. There were also safety vaults in several rooms. Outside were parked several SUVs and luxury cars.

The massive compound is located beside the Bamban Municipal Hall.

Casio said Bamban town officials should have been more vigilant when it allowed the establishment of the amusement and gaming hub in 2020.

“Lahat po ng POGO, lahat ng (internet gaming license) operators kinakailangan po magkaroon niyan ng Letter of No Objection galing sa city council. Dapat bago nag release ng LONO yung munisipyo dinouble, di lang double, triple o quadruple check kasi nga nakita natin yung mga ebidensya ng scamming dito sa loob,” he said.

The Department of Justice is also investigating the case.

Prior to the March raid, the compound was also raided last February this year due to allegations of a cryptocurrency scam when it was licensed under the Hongsheng Gaming technology.

Posted below is the related news video of GMA.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think that the remaining POGOs here in the Philippines could be engaging in illegal activities and added to criminal activities in local communities near their facilities?

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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COMELEC and DOJ sign agreement versus vote-buying related to the BSKE

September 28, 2023September 25, 2023carlocarrasco

With the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) all set to happen on October 30, 2023, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) formally signed an agreement versus vote-buying, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) signed an agreement on Monday to go after and prosecute persons involved in vote-buying in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said prosecutors nationwide will be on duty to accept complaints on Oct. 30, election day.

“The fiscals will be available for the cases that may be filed,” he told the media during the “Kontra Bigay” memorandum of agreement signing at the DOJ office in Manila. “We can handle the volume. Mahalaga dyan may testigo (What is important is there are witnesses).”

He said the need for witnesses is crucial since most-vote buying may be conducted using electronic wallets, instead of actual cash changing hands.

Remulla also sees no conflict with a recent DOJ directive to closely scrutinize all charge sheets filed before prosecutors to ensure that complaints with a reasonable probability of conviction will be filed by the courts.

All charges may be considered “open-and-shut” cases if sworn statements from witnesses are complete and sufficient.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia expressed confidence that measures such as warrantless arrest of persons involved in vote buying and red flags like the transport of large volumes of cash and giveaways are sufficient measures.

So far, Comelec has already received 23 complaints related to vote-buying.

The practice of “flying voters” or voters ferried to different voting areas are no longer prevalent due to the adoption of modern voter identification systems, Garcia added.

The campaign period for the BSKE will be on Oct. 19 to 28.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that this agreement by the COMELEC and the DOJ will make an impact against vote-buying related to the BSKE?

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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Another foreign fugitive found among those rescued in Las Piñas City raid

July 19, 2023July 17, 2023carlocarrasco

The developments related to the recent raid in Las Piñas City continues to be surprising as another foreign fugitive was identified among those who got rescued by the police, according to a GMA Network news report. Take note that previously there were other foreign fugitives uncovered.

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

Another Chinese fugitive was identified among the rescued workers from the raid in a Las Piñas City establishment in June, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday.

In a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said the fugitive was identified as one of the “big bosses” of the company that was raided by authorities over suspected illegal activities.

“Noong in-apply natin ang search warrant ay identified na po siya as one of the bosses po ng Hong Tai company,” Fajardo said.

(When we applied for a search warrant, he was already identified as one of the bosses of Hong Tai company.)

“Noong nag-background check na po ang embassy ay nalaman po natin, nagbigay po sila ng document na may warrant of detention na rin pala ito at lumalabas po noong chineck, isa pala siya doon sa mga big bosses ng company,” she added.

(We learned about it when the embassy conducted a background check and it gave us a document showing this person already has a warrant of detention.)

Four Chinese and three Taiwanese fugitives were previously discovered among the rescued workers. They were turned over to the Bureau of Immigration on July 7 for deportation.

On June 26, authorities implemented a search warrant in a compound in Las Piñas over an alleged human trafficking situation.

The police reported that 1,534 Filipinos and 1,190 foreigners were rescued from the raid.

According to Fajardo, authorities also discovered two minors — an Indonesian and a Malaysian — among the rescued workers.

On June 30, five Chinese suspects identified as Li Jiacheng, alias Li Jiachang, Xiao Liu, alias Xiao Lin, Yan Jiayong, alias Pan Wen Jie, Duan Haozhuan, and LP Hongkun, alias Li Yang, underwent inquest proceedings at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

But according to DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, the five Chinese were ordered to be released due to lack of evidence.

Remulla slammed the PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), which spearheaded the raid, for supposedly failing to coordinate with the DOJ before conducting the raid.

The suspects’ lawyer, Atty. Christian Vargas, said the five Chinese nationals are still under police custody despite a release order from the DOJ.

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 feeling concerned that there could be even more foreign fugitives among the many employees of the raided POGO?

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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DOJ Secretary emphasizes coordination among government agencies when it comes to tackling illegal POGOs, makes another reference to Las Piñas City raid

July 18, 2023July 16, 2023carlocarrasco

The recent raid in Las Piñas City was referred to once more as Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla emphasized that coordination between agencies of the government when it comes to tackling Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) believed to be illegal, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. This is not the first time the Secretary made a reference to the Las Piñas raid. Already there were foreign fugitives uncovered in the same raid.

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

Government agencies must exert concerted efforts to ensure that illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) are discontinued, according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday.

Remulla underscored the need to scrutinize the rules on regulatory compliance following recent raids conducted on boiler room operations staffed by thousands of local and foreign workers in Pampanga and Las Piñas City.

“A lot of sensitive legal salient points have to be threshed out and this involves the agencies of the DOJ (Department of Justice) coordinating with every other office in the government that will help out in the efforts to weed out illegal POGOs,” Remulla said during a press conference.

The coordination will include the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Foreign Affairs, and the police, according to Remulla.

“We will thresh out these issues so that we will not be pointing at each other. We will be working as a team for the government,” he said.

Remulla said they will also seek guidance from the Supreme Court so that the procedures necessary to carry out their mandates to stamp out illegal POGOs will be done properly.

“So ang ginawa namin tiningnan namin lahat ng (we are exploring every) weak points from the experience that we have. We are making sure that the weaknesses of the cases in the past will no longer be there,” he added.

Remulla said the BI will continue to enforce the rules against illegal aliens or offenses involving foreigners.

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? Do you think the POGO raid in the city was not handled properly by the local authorities?

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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DOJ Secretary laments PNP’s failure to heed department’s advise, refers to Las Piñas City raid

July 12, 2023July 10, 2023carlocarrasco

In the latest turn of events related to the recent raid of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Las Piñas City, Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla lamented the Philippine National Police (PNP) to head his department’s advice to build up cases first before doing raids targeting criminal suspects and rescuing victims, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The Las Piñas City raid was referred to by Remulla.

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

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla lamented the failure of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to heed the advice of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to build up cases first before implementing raids to arrest suspected criminal offenders and rescue possible victims.

Remulla pointed out the raid conducted by the PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) at the Hong Tai Compound in Las Pinas City where it allegedly rescued 2,714 Filipinos and foreigners from human trafficking.

“May pag-uusap na kasi ang DOJ at tsaka Anti-Cybercrime Group ng PNP na bago kumilos ay mag-case build up muna para ‘pag tayo ay nagraid at tayo ay manghuli ang lahat ng ating huhullihin ay pihadong may ebidensya laban sa kanila (The DOJ and PNP-ACG have already talked that before policemen act they should conduct case build up first so that, once they hold raids and make arrests, law enforcement will surely have evidence),” Remulla said during a press briefing on Monday, July 10.

“Hindi po ito nasunod (This was not followed),” he lamented.

With PNP’s failure to heed the advice, he said “ngayon maraming nakabinbin na hindi maifile na mga kaso sapagkat wala naman ebidensya na kumpleto (there are many pending cases that could not be filed because of incomplete evidence).”

Records showed that the PNP also filed criminal cases before the DOJ against five Chinese nationals who were arrested for alleged violations of the anti-human trafficking law. They were identified as Li Jiacheng, Xiao Liu, Yan Jiayong, Duan Haozhuan and LP Hongkun.

Remulla said the five suspects have been released for further preliminary investigation.

“Sinabi na namin mag-usap muna tayo bago kayo kikilos. Tapos gusto nila file kami ng file ng kaso kahit wala kaming ebidensya. Hindi namin gagawin ‘yun (We told them to talk first before taking action. Now they want the DOJ to file cases even though there are no evidence. We will not do that),” he stressed.

He said that most of those rescued have been repatriated to their respective countries and over 1,000 of them remain in the Philippines.

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? Do you think that the raid on the POGO firm in the city by the local authorities is justified?

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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SEC sues companies for operating unregistered online lending platforms

December 30, 2022December 28, 2022carlocarrasco

Online lending firms here in the Philippines have been reported for alleged violations that include harassing clients (click here and here). Very recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued companies for operating online lending platforms that were allegedly unregistered, 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…

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has has filed criminal complaint against Suncash Lending Investors Corp., UCash Lending Investors Corp., Suncredit.ph Finance Corp., and ECredit Finance Inc. for operating unregistered online lending platforms (OLPs).

The SEC Enforcement and Investor Protection Department (EIPD) filed the criminal complaint against Suncash, UCash, Suncredit and Ecredit before the Department of Justice (DOJ) last December 20.

The firms’ failure to disclose their online lending applications (OLA) is in violation of the Lending Company Regulation Act (LCRA) and the Financing Company Act (FCA).

The Commission implicated Qi Lu, the president of Ecredit, Suncash, and Suncredit, who was also found to be the beneficial owner of Suncash alongside Zhu Junfeng. Junfeng is also a director of the three other companies.

Also implicated in the complaint were other incorporators, directors and officials of the companies, including Chang Yuting, Joyclyn V. Pelayo, Chang Tao, Bryan Dordas Pelayo, Jasmin Tabjan Vianzon, Jayson Lee, Meng Jie, Xiaofang Song, Danilo Felicilda, Roger Publico, Yaping Liu, Xianming Tian, Shiling Xu, Xiaobo Pan, Sheila Pagkalinawan, and Xiaojing Luo.

The EIPD, together with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), Eastern District Anti-Cybercrime Team, Manila Police District, and the Special Weapons and Tactics Philippines (SWAT), previously implemented a warrant to search, seize, and examine computer against Suncash, as part of the SECs crackdown against unregistered lenders.

The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 147 issued the search warrant against Suncash upon several complaints received by the PNP-ACG and the SEC against the company.

During the implementation of the search warrant, it was discovered that other lending companies, including Ucash, Suncredit, and Ecredit, had been operating alongside Suncash in its headquarters in Sampaloc, Manila.

The joint operation resulted in the arrest of 83 individuals, identified as operators, managers, employees, and agents of Suncash.

The Commission found that Suncash operated unregistered online lending platforms (OLPs), defying Sections 12(2)(a) 12(3)(a) of the LCRA, in relation to SEC Memorandum Circular No. 19, Series of 2019 (SEC MC 19), providing the Disclosure Requirements on Advertisements of Financing Companies and Lending Companies and Reporting of Online Lending Platforms.

SEC MC 19 requires lending and financing companies to report all their existing OLPs to the Commission.

Records show that Suncash had been operating three unregistered OLPs, namely Suncash, Flashloan, and Peso Pautang, contrary to what is stated in its affidavit of compliance that it operated no other OLP than Suncash.

The EIPD also said that Suncash operated the unregistered OLPs to circumvent and defy the moratorium imposed on the registration of new OLPs effective November 5, 2021, as per SEC Memorandum Circular No. 10, Series of 2021.

Meanwhile, Ucash filed an affidavit for the operation of its OLP on December 7, 2022, when the moratorium on new OLPs was still in effect.

Further, the EIPD charged Suncredit and Ecredit for violation of Sections 14(1)(a) and 14(2)(a) of the FCA, in relation to SEC MC 19. Suncredit and Ecredit were found to be the operators of Peso Pautang and Flashloan, respectively.

The Commission also noted that all the companies engaged in abusive, unethical, and unfair debt collection practices, in violation of SEC Memorandum Circular No. 18, Series of 2019, or the Prohibition on Unfair Debt Collection Practices of Financing Companies and Lending Companies.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Which among the reported companies sound familiar to you? Do you personally know anyone who borrowed money from an online lending firm and got harassed through communication because he or she was unable to settle the debt? Do you plan to borrow money from any online lending firm anytime 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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others as well as 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

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