Tag: scam

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

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

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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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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

The potential danger behind the promotion of the Philippines as an LGBTQIA+ tourist destination

The potential danger behind the promotion of the Philippines as an LGBTQIA+ tourist destination

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As many of you my readers should know by now, I blogged a lot about tourism in the Philippines, what the Department of Tourism (DOT) has been doing and what the nation has achieved with regards to attracting foreign tourists.

While DOT has been working very hard to make the nation a more competitive tourism destination in Asia in accordance to the master plan, I am concerned about the department’s involvement with promoting the Philippines as an LGBTQIA+ destination. In fact, I can say it is a big turn-off as it can lead to new incidents and criminal activities that will affect local societies which the stakeholders cannot anticipate.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article of September 28, 2023. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine government on Thursday vowed to promote inclusive travel in its bid to position the country as an LGBTQI+-friendly destination in the region.

During the first Tourism Pride Summit in Makati City, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the Philippines plans to implement programs and initiate government interventions to address the unique challenges that the community faces when traveling.

The summit, she said, is one intervention to spark conversation and give members of the LGBTQIA+ a platform where they can share experiences and suggestions on how the government can make travel enjoyable and safe for them.

“Under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he seeks a tourism industry that is inclusive, where no destination and no stakeholder is left behind in the development of our country,” Frasco said.

“That is why in our effort to reach our hand of collaboration to the farthest reaches of our country, we reach out our hand of collaboration as well to the many sectors that are involved in tourism, especially and including the LGBTQIA+ community,” she added.

Frasco noted that LGBTQIA+ tourism presents vast opportunities for growing the Philippine tourism industry portfolio.

Citing data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Frasco said there are an estimated 36 million LGBTQIA+ travelers around the world.

“We recognize the strength of capitalizing on LGBTQIA+ tourism considering that it is a USD200 billion industry that’s only slated to grow at half a trillion dollar industry by 2030,” she said.

Obviously the DOT is determined to attract as many LGBTQIA+ foreign tourists as possible as well as their money so that it could help them reach their financial goals and add to the momentum to make the Philippines a major tourist destination by the year 2028.

If ever a huge influx of foreign tourists who identify themselves as homosexuals/transgender/bisexual/transsexual/intersex/non-binary arrive in the Philippines, there is the potential rise of criminal activities involving the acts of the LGBTQIA+ people in the country. Can they behave themselves? Already there is one local LGBT crime that resulted one death. Can you imagine the possibility of more crime happening as more LGBTQIA+ tourists arrived? Can these people really behave themselves?

I am not just talking about sex tourism but also potential violations such as rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault, theft, scams, molestation, kidnapping, murder and other incidents that LGBTQIA+ tourists could commit here in the Philippines as they know they are favored by the DOT. If these specific foreign tourists could add to crime while touring the country, then the “Love the Philippines” slogan of the DOT could end up having a very dirty reputation plus additional embarrassment for the entire nation.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about the DOT’s drive to make the Philippines a more attractive destination for LGBTQIA+ tourists? Do you think the DOT continues to ignore the potential danger that LGBTQIA+ tourists could unleash on Filipinos while they tour the country? Did you encounter a homosexual foreign tourist who committed a crime or victimized a member of your local community? Does the majority of the youth in your local community express themselves as LGBT-friendly or even as LGBT rights activists?

Do you think that the Democrats in America, the Islamo-Leftists and woke activists could be funding LGBTQIA+ people to come to the Philippines for vacationing as well as executing secretive efforts to establish new activists among Filipinos who will blindly fight for LGBT rights in the country?

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

PNP tells public to avoid scammers and transact only with legitimate companies when booking for travel

PNP tells public to avoid scammers and transact only with legitimate companies when booking for travel

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In recent times, the Philippine National Police (PNP) advised people to avoid scammers, protect their personal information and only transact with legitimate companies with regards to making arrangements for travel as the summer season approaches, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. The PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) noticed that scammers have been using digital methods and social media to deceive customers and take their money.

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

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday advised the public to ensure that they are transacting with legitimate companies to avoid falling victims to scams ahead of the summer travel season.

The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) issued the warning due to the upward trend in vacation or travel accommodation scams last year.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, citing ACG data, said from 39 cases in 2021 and 91 cases in 2022, the police recorded 313 cases in 2023. This year, the police has so far recorded 35 cases.

Criminals utilize social media and digital technology to impersonate legitimate establishments, offering online accommodation services at much lower rates than usual.

However, upon arrival, victims discover that their reservations do not exist in the establishment’s system.

“We would like to take this opportunity to warn and remind our public na mag ingat (to be wary). Katulad ng sinasabi natin (As we have been saying), this is not only limited sa mga (to) vacation scam. Pati nga ‘yung mga nagbebenta ng mga murang services, nagbebenta ng mga ano-anong produkto, mag-ingat tayo especially kung ang kapalit agad nun is magpapadala kayo ng pera without you not knowing kung sino ang mga iyon (This includes those offering cheap services, selling different kinds of products, let’s be wary especially if the scheme means you have to send money without you knowing who are these),” she added.

ACG director Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia Director urged netizens to exercise utmost caution and refrain from providing personal or financial details online without verifying the legitimacy of the recipient.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think the scammers have been victimizing a lot of local travelers lately? Have you seen lots of enticing travel promos on social media that promised huge discounts? If you have been traveling lately, do you do your bookings online or over the counter with a travel agency?

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

Philippines described by Nikkei Asia as “Asia’s epicenter for online shopping scams”

Philippines described by Nikkei Asia as “Asia’s epicenter for online shopping scams”

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In recent times, a lot of people here in the Philippines got cheated by a scammer over their huge purchases of tickets for a Taylor Swift in Singapore. This incident serves as a painful reminder that the nation has been hit by a lot of scams online, so much so the Nikkei Asia published a December 2023 article describing the Philippines as “Asia’s epicenter for online shopping scams.”

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

James Relativo thought he had landed a great deal on an electric drum set, but instead the Manila resident was cheated out of his money in a country gaining the dubious distinction as Asia’s worst for online sales scams.

Shoppers across the Philippines have been bilked out of millions of dollars so far this year, with some turning to victim chat groups on Facebook and other social media. A recent report found more than one-third of Filipinos surveyed had been scammed or encountered retail fraud online.

“Some people easily believe in false promises even if they are too good to be true,” warned Alexander Ramos, executive director of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).

In retrospect, Relativo might have been more skeptical about a drum set going for 8,000 pesos ($140), less than half the usual price, on e-commerce site Shopee.

But he hit ‘buy’ without hesitating, and soon things turned suspicious. The seller shifted its communications to a messaging app and demanded half the cost of the drums for “refundable taxes.”

More money demands followed until a frustrated Relativo agreed to bypass Shopee’s payment system and settle his remaining balance on GCash, a digital payments platform. He never got his drums.

“I just kept telling him I wanted my money back,” Relativo told Nikkei Asia, his voice laced with exasperation. “It wasn’t like I was dealing with a scammer — he was talking to me, sending me pictures of the drum set being packed.“

The journalist’s saga highlights a bitter experience for a growing number of people in the Philippines, which clocked the highest scam rate for online shoppers across nearly a dozen economies in the 2023 Asia Scam Report, published in November.

Commissioned by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) and Taiwan-based tech security company Gogolook, the report surveyed 20,000 respondents about their online shopping experiences in Vietnam, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

The shopping scam rate in the Philippines led the group at an eye-watering 35.9%, followed by mainland China at 27.2%. South Korea had the lowest incidence, at 4.2%.

The explosion in online shopping has created a lucrative market for scammers. And a lack of cybercrime awareness is aggravating the problem in the Philippines, where people spend an average of 10 hours a day online by some estimates.

“Although (Filipinos) are considered very connected and digitally wired, (they) do not have adequate digital literacy skills,” said Mark Manantan, director of cybersecurity and critical technologies at the Pacific Forum in Hawaii.

The survey found that Filipinos were easy prey for scammers because they “respond too quickly” to sellers’ demands.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think Nikkei Asia’s article is detailed enough and trustworthy when it comes to gaining a strong awareness about online scams? How members of your household or your local community got scammed online over the past six months? Why do you think a lot of people in the Philippines are so determined to spend a lot of money to watch a Taylor Swift event 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

BI reminds travelers that eTravel registration is free of charge and they should avoid scammers

BI reminds travelers that eTravel registration is free of charge and they should avoid scammers

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With renewed focus on the safety of travelers in mind, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that registration with the eTravel system (electronic travel declaration system) is free of charge and people should avoid scammers who have been targeting travelers using fake websites, 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 Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday warned travelers against scammers purportedly charging fees for the electronic travel declaration system or eTravel.

Commissioner Norman Tansingco clarified that registration in the eTravel platform is free of charge, thus travelers should be wary of unscrupulous elements who charges fees from passengers via fake websites.

“The eTravel registration process is absolutely free of charge. We, therefore, advise the traveling public to register only in the government’s official website at https://etravel.gov.ph,” he said in a statement.

Fees allegedly collected from the passengers amount to between PHP3,000 to PHP5,000 when converted to peso as the fees charged by the scammers are usually in US dollars.

The BI chief urged the public to beware of the such fraudulent websites or entities which require any form of online payment.

Likewise, he asked them to report to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) via its website at https://cicc.gov.ph/report/.

Tansingco issued the warning following reports of passengers at the airports who claim they have already registered in the eTravel platform and “paid” the supposed fees that were charged to them.

BI officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have reported instances of many passengers who were surprised when informed that they have to register in the eTravel as the digital QR code they presented could not be accessed in the system.

“It is only when they encounter our officers at the airport that these passengers would realize they have been duped by these fraudsters and scammers in the internet,” he added.

The eTravel was launched earlier this year, and serves as the single data collection platform for arriving and departing passengers. It establishes an integrated border control, health surveillance and economic data analysis.

It is a joint project of the agency with the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC).

The project abolished the paper-based arrival and departure cards, as well as the quarantine form.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent report? Does this latest development make you feel safer to be online? If you had traveled overseas and came back home within the past six months, how was your experience registering with the eTravel system? Did you encounter any scammer online?

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

Las Piñas City police warns local businesses about beauty pageant scammer

Las Piñas City police warns local businesses about beauty pageant scammer

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Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the local police department officially warned the business establishments about the ongoing solicitation scam (which includes a fake endorsement) for a so-called beauty pageant and they also revealed captured CCTV footage of the suspect, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

The Las Piñas City police issued a warning to all business establishments against a solicitation scam using a fake endorsement for the “Miss Amazing Philippines’ 2023” beauty pageant.

City police chief Col. Jaime Santos said Rovic Macariola, a resident of Barangay Almanza Uno and president of Dender and Development, was reportedly approaching business establishments and soliciting donations to support the city’s candidate for the beauty pageant.

Santos said Macariola reportedly solicited donations, amounting to P2,500 to P3,500, to business establishments in exchange for reduced payments for business permits at the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO).

The city police chief said upon verification, they found out that the suspect has a pending case for illegal drug possession, estafa, swindling, and falsification of legislative documents.

Mayor Imelda Aguilar also issued a warning on Friday, Sept. 29, about the use of her fake signature in an endorsement indicating that the suspect is authorized by her office to solicit funds to support the city’s candidate for the “Miss Amazing Philippines’ 2023” beauty pageant.   

Upon learning of the illegal activity of Macariola, Aguilar immediately alerted the police and ordered the arrest.

To see the image of the suspect released by the local police, click https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/30/las-pinas-police-warns-business-establishments-vs-beauty-pageant-scammer

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? Have you personally encountered the suspect? Were there any businesses in your local community that were approached by the suspect? Have you ever heard of a beauty pageant called Miss Amazing Philippines?

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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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 engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Las Piñas City Mayor Aguilar warns public about solicitation scam

Las Piñas City Mayor Aguilar warns public about solicitation scam

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Recently in the City of Las Piñas, Mayor Imelda Aguilar issued a warning to the public about a solicitation scam for a beauty pageant involving a fake endorsement, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Eerily, this development shared common elements with what happened in Muntinlupa lately.

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

Las Piñas City Mayor Imelda Aguilar warned city residents against a solicitation scam using a fake endorsement for the “Miss Amazing Philippines’ 2023” beauty pageant.

Aguilar said the endorsement using her fake signature states that a certain Rovic Macariolla, a resident of Barangay Almanza Uno, Las Piñas City and a president of Gender and Development was being authorized by her office to solicit to the public to support the city’s candidate for “Miss Amazing Philippines’ 2023” beauty pageant.

She said the local police, under the supervision of Col. Jaime Santos, was already alerted and ordered to arrest the suspect.

The mayor urged the public to call the local police hotline numbers at 0998-5987928/0947-4622859 or at (02) 8832-6422/8808-7395/8525-8403 once approached by the suspect.

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 scammers pretending to have endorsements of local officials could be pouncing on potential victims in your local community? Has anyone approached you and tried to solicit money from you for a beauty pageant?

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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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 engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Muntinlupa City Mayor and Congressman warn public about beauty pageant solicitation scam

Muntinlupa City Mayor and Congressman warn public about beauty pageant solicitation scam

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Did anyone in Muntinlupa City approach you and tried to solicit funds for a beauty pageant? There is a scam happening locally and no less than the Mayor and Congressman of Muntinlupa warned the public about it, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Muntinlupa Rep. Jaime Fresnedi and Mayor Ruffy Biazon warned the public of a solicitation scam using a fake endorsement letter for a beauty pageant. 

In a Facebook post, Fresnedi said a fake endorsement letter indicating that it came from his office was being used to solicit from business establishments for the “Miss Amazing Philippines” beauty pageant in exchange for a five percent discount when they renew their business permits. 

The fake endorsement letter certified that a certain Rovic Macariola from Barangay Putatan appeared on Sept. 15 in Fresnedi’s office “with the purpose of seeking permission for the introduction and fulfillment of the candidate requirements for the competition of ‘Miss Amazing Philippines 2023’ pageant.”

“The public is hereby warned that Rovic P. Macariola did not appear on the 15th day of September 2023 and sought permission from this Office relative to the requirements for the competition of ‘Miss Amazing Philippines’ 2023 pageant,” Fresnedi said in a statement.

He added, “Further, Atty. Miguelito Rueda-Gozos who allegedly approved the Certificate of Appearance as a lawyer holding position as a mere Administrative Aide II is not connected with the Office of the House of Representatives of the Lone District of Muntinlupa.”

Fresnedi said the letterhead used in the fake endorsement letter “pertains to the City Government of Muntinlupa and not to the Lone District and the signature of the undersigned in the Certificate of Appearance was forged.”

He said, “the public is hereby advised that the Office of Representative Jaime R. Fresnedi did not issue the Certificate of Appearance and that they should not transact with Rovic P. Macariola who made the foregoing false representations in order to solicit donations for the alleged beauty pageant.”

Biazon said this is a scam and the city government does not ask money or donation in exchange for a discount.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? Did someone approach you and tried to solicit funds from you for a special event or activity? Do you think there could be more solicitation scams happening within the city 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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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 engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Consultancy firm in Parañaque City shut down by DMW for illegal recruitment

Consultancy firm in Parañaque City shut down by DMW for illegal recruitment

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Recently in Parañaque City, agents of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) shut down a consultancy firm for illegal recruitment, according to a news article published by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). There were also local police officers and barangay officials present during the closure.

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

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has shut down another consultancy firm found to be offering fake jobs overseas.

On Thursday, DMW Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac, together with Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, head of the DMW’s Licensing and Adjudication Services cluster, Assistant Secretary Francis de Guzman, and lawyer Geraldine Mendez, Chief of the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), raided the office of RTM Maritime Consultancy Services Corp. at the 2nd floor of the J & P Building along Ninoy Aquino Avenue in Santo Niño, Paranaque City.

They were assisted by the Parañaque City police and the officials from Barangay Sto. Niño.

Cacdac said the DMW received several emails early this year complaining about the RTM Maritime Consultancy agency.

He cited victims “Ernesto” and “Dindo” who sent separate emails to the department narrating their experience.

Cacdac said “Ernesto” was promised by RTM a job as Chief Cook onboard a container vessel in Dubai with a monthly salary of USD900 (PHP51,300).

“Ernesto” was asked to pay by the consultancy firm a total of PHP105,000 as consultancy fees for finding him an overseas job.

Meanwhile, “Dindo” applied for the position of Engine Cadet with a promised monthly salary of USD350, or approximately PHP20,000, and was asked by RTM to pay a consultancy fee of PHP140,000 for the job placement.

Both “Ernesto” and “Dindo” applied for their alleged jobs in the first quarter of 2023.

However, several months have passed but they have not been deployed yet despite having paid the consultancy fee, and so they decided to file their complaints with the DMW.

The DMW conducted initial surveillance operations of RTM’s activities in March while a follow-up surveillance operation was undertaken in June to bolster the case against the agency.

Cacdac said RTM does not have a valid license or accreditation from the department.

He said RTM received and processed applications and referred these to its partner manning agency, and collected consultation fees ranging from PHP105,000 to as much as PHP140,000 from their applicants who were promised fake jobs as seafarers in Dubai, despite a no placement fee policy for seafarers.

RTM officers and personnel will be charged with illegal recruitment, the DMW said.

The DMW is also urging other victims of RTM Maritime Consultancy Corp. to visit the MWPB so they may be assisted in filing their complaints and cases against the illegal recruitment agency.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Do you anyone who got victimized by the Parañaque consultancy firm that got shut down? Do you believe there could be more scammers operating in Parañaque?

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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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 engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Las Piñas City government warns constituents about people pretending to be BPLO employees and extortion

Las Piñas City government warns constituents about people pretending to be BPLO employees and extortion

carlocarrasco

Recently in Las Piñas City, the City Government issued a public warning to local residents about individuals who have been pretending to be employees of the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) and acts of extortion that were detected, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

The Las Piñas City government is warning the public against individuals posing as employees of the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) and unlawfully extorting money from applicants.

Mayor Imelda Aguilar released the advisory after receiving several reports of “unscrupulous activity” involving individuals posing as BPLO employees who are allegedly extorting money from applicants in exchange for faster processing of their permits.

Aguilar said the city government is also coordinating with the police to apprehend individuals posing as BPLO employees.

She emphasized that those who will be apprehended for falsely posing as any city government employee will face legal repercussions.

Authentic or legal employees of the BPLO and the city government carries valid IDs, according to their assigned offices, complete with a photo, name, position and signature, the mayor added.

Aguilar told the public to verify the identity of the individuals they interact with by asking for proper identification and contacting their designated offices.

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? Did you encounter someone who claims to be working for the city’s BPLO? Are you concerned that there could be more scammers posing as authority figures in the city?

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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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 engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673