Capiz provincial board to probe ‘investment scams’

By Felipe V. Celino 

 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz— A Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member called for an investigation into the alleged illegal operations of investment schemes in the province of Capiz.

Board member Enrique “Ricky” Martin initiated the probe after several investors trooped to his house to seek his help in recovering their investments.

Martin said he plans to summon the chief executive officers (CEOs) of three investment schemes that are facing complaints filed by some investors after they failed to receive their capitals and earnings after the stipulated investment period.

In his privilege speech during Tuesday’s regular session, Martin appealed to the CEOs to return the investors’ money.

He said that he consulted his lawyer before taking the cudgels for the investors who plunked in millions of pesos of their hard-earned money.

The probe will summon three CEOs — Patrocenio Chiyuto Jr. of Chiyuto Creative Wealth Document Facilitation Services (CCWDFS), Junelyn Obamos Gregorio, and Katrina Aguirre of 25 Day Double Your Money Investment Scheme – to appear in the next regular session to answer the queries of their investors.

The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) earlier revoked the registration of CCWDFS and fined the firm P9 million for violating the Securities Regulation Code.

Several investors are also contemplating to file syndicated estafa charges against Gregorio and Aguirre for failing to pay their investors on promised dates.

Martin said the three CEOs are residents of Capiz, thus they should not shy away from their responsibilities to their investors.

Martin said the investors can seek the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the PNP, or a lawyer to file charges against the CEOs and their uplines.

“I have no personal grudges against these CEOs. Instead, I pity them for fooling their fellow Capiceños,” he said.

Most of the investors were ordinary folks such as market vendors, fishermen, farmers, and members of the uniformed services, teachers, and government employees.

Some politicians in the province were also allegedly lured by these investment schemes.

Meanwhile, the provincial board will invite the management of the different banking institutions here to discuss the status and effect of the alleged investment scams to the economy of Capiz.

Board Member Jonathan Sonny Besa said that as a public official, he was worried about the effect of the investment scheme to the economy and banking system of Capiz as billions of pesos may have been involved.

Besa said they will also discuss what the provincial government will do to boost the economy of the province.

The provincial board will invite the Bankers Association of the Philippines-Capiz Chapter, business chambers, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and other stakeholders.

Board Member Esteban Steve Contreras hailed Martin’s move because most of the victims were Capizeños.

Contreras also denied allegations that his family was behind the 25 Day Double Your Money investment scheme.

He labelled the allegation as “dirty politics” against his family.