PHILIPPINE Coastguard (PCG) personnel have arrested a Bulgarian allegedly involved in Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) scams at a local wharf in Zamboanga City, an official announced on Thursday, August 3.
Lieutenant Commander Alvin Dagalea, Zamboanga Coastguard Station commander, identified the arrested Bulgarian as Konstantine Simeonov Kabrakov, 33, who has no travel documents.
Dagalea said Kabrakov was intercepted and arrested around 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 2, aboard a passenger ferry bound for Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
Dagalea said they seized from Kabrakov's possession more than 30 swipe cards of a shopping mall chain, expired Philippine driver's license, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) card, laptop and a swipe machine.
He said Kavrakov had been living in Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City based on the his driver's license.
He said they are validating information that Kavrakov is the same person arrested in 2011 for hacking the bank account of Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
He said they are also validating whether Kavrakov has standing warrants of arrest.
He said the arrest of the Bulgarian was a result of the tight security being implemented at the local wharf in line with the declaration of martial law in Mindanao by President Rodrigo Duterte. (SunStar Philippines)