TUGUEGARAO CITY – Two supervisors of an investment scam were arrested in an entrapment operation by police authorities in Barangay Annafunan, Echague, Isabela recently.
The suspects identified as Ernesto Simangan Gumarang, 72 years old and Merlita Fuentes Gumarang, 60 years old, spouses, both residents of Purok 7, Brgy. Gayong, Cordon, Isabela were arrested by personnel of Echague Police Station, Isabela Police Provincial Office and CIDG-Regional Field Unit 2 Santiago City Field Unit in coordination with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in an entrapment operation.
The suspects who claim to be supervisors of Interim National People’s Initiative Council were caught in the act of engaging in investment scam and soliciting funds from the public without any authority or company registration from the SEC.
Confiscated from the suspects’ possession and control were one unit Euro Sport 110 single motorcycle; one unit Vivo cellphone; one unit Magic keypad cellphone; cash in different denominations amounting to Php3,500.00; a Certificate of Distributor for Ernesto S. Gumarang; a Certificate of Distributor for Merlita F. Gumarang; 102 filled up KTVM-FAL Tandem for Brand New Philippines; ten blank KTVM-FAL Tandem for Brand New Philippines; one endorsement information letter; 11 filled up Certificates of Entitlement; 17 blank Certificates of Entitlement; 12 filled up INTERIM Appointment Orders; 12 blank INTERIM Appointment Orders; 52 blank NPIC-NPICC third edition forms for New Philippines; eight blank NPIC-NPICC third edition forms for New Philippines; one black hand bag; one stamp pad; one stapler; and two ballpens.
Police report reveals that the suspects representing the said unregistered entity solicited membership fees from their victims in the amount of P400.00 each with the promise that their money will earn P30,000.00 to P1,000,000.00 to be paid in December 2021.
The inventory and marking of the pieces of evidence were done in the presence of the suspects duly witnessed by Barangay Kagawad Bolvin Babaran and Barangay Tanod Ramil Rubio, both of Barangay Annafunan, Echague, Isabela.
The suspects were brought to CIDG Santiago City Field Unit for documentation and filing of appropriate cases of Syndicated Estafa against them.
The operation stemmed from complaints of eight individuals who claimed to have fallen victims to the scam. Further probe is underway for the identification of other possible victims of the said scam.
