Cabaero: Another ‘case closed’

IT APPEARED to be another “case closed” when the 43 Taiwan nationals arrested for online fraud here were brought to Clark, Pampanga, in a final step towards their deportation.

Investigators said there was no victim in Cebu, no reason to hold them here, and the best way for them to face their accusers was to send them back to Taiwan. Those arrested leave on Tuesday for Taiwan where their victims in online extortion operations could file charges.

Police did not say the case is closed or that their investigation is over, but it seemed there would be no more inquiry into how the Taiwan nationals were able to operate here and who their local contacts were who made it possible for them to set up base. No charges were filed in Cebu against those arrested.

Another high-profile case of “case closed” was the robbery and killing of a 17-year-old female university student by a man who was later shot dead by unidentified persons. Police said the death of suspect Ruben Gerongco Fernandez in Bohol concluded their investigation into the killing of Karen Kaye Montebon. Case closed. A full report is expected this week to specify events that made investigators consider Montebon’s killing as solved. The Lapu-Lapu City Government is holding the P500,000 reward money until the police could identify who helped find the killer.

The separate incident involving the Taiwan nationals started with their arrest in a series of raids conducted by police agencies following complaints from their victims in Taiwan and China. The group’s operations hubs were in houses inside Cebu City’s gated communities. They had telephones, computers, modems and other Internet connection devices they used to extort from their victims.

Reports said those arrested were part of an international syndicate that told victims to deposit money to accounts as part of an investigation into money laundering. Once the deposit is made, syndicate members run away with the money.

Such elaborate operations in several locations here must have required local participation. The syndicate may not have extorted money from Filipinos, or Cebuanos in particular, but they must have misled some people or misrepresented themselves.

Our anti-cybercrime laws penalize illegal acts committed using the Internet. These acts include hacking, data interference, and fraud. The laws provisions apply to those whose punishable acts are committed within the Philippines.

The deportation of those arrested should not mean investigators have to stop looking into violations of our laws by the foreigners or their local representatives.

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Devotees to the Our Lady of Peñafrancia, patroness of Bicolandia, are invited to join the fiesta mass today, Sunday, at 5:30 p.m. at the Capitol Parish Church gymnasium.

Mass will be celebrated by Bicol priests based in Cebu. The Bicol Association of Cebu Inc. is organizing the fiesta activities. Viva la Virgen!

(ninicab@sunstar.com.ph)