Baguio cops collar 'Master' for syndicated estafa

BAGUIO CITY — Members of the Baguio City Police Office collared a man identified by his alyas as “Master” after months of surveillance.

The arrest with a warrant issued by the Baguio City Regional Trial Court was done at Barangay Kabayanihan, Baguio City. The arrested person who is 41 years old is facing charges for syndicated estafa.

No bail was recommended for his temporary release.

According to the police, the suspect is the number 3 in the list of top most wanted persons of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Cordillera. He is also suspected as a member of thecasino junket scam  “Team Z.”

The said scam group squandered an amount reaching P17 billion worth of investments from unsuspecting investors in the country where many victim’s are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

In a resolution, the Baguio City Prosecutors Office upon the recommendation of the National Bureau of Investigation — Cordillera Administrative Region (NBI-CAR) charged the leaders and operators of Team Z for Syndicated Estafa.

The charged individuals are Hector Aldwin Liao Pantollana, Hubert Aldwin Liao Pantollana, Virgino Martin Casupanan, Hazen  Humilde, Jerrt J. Cuapingco, Hein Humilde and other 10 individuals.

The operatives of NBI Cordillera started its investigation on Team Z in September of 2022 and culminated in the filing of charges against its leaders and operators when subjects delayed with the payouts to the investors. The received more than 300 complainants against the casino scam group.

Agents of NBI through their investigation discovered that Team Z is not authorized or licensed to operate as a casino junket. Neither does it have an existing junket business. Team Z’s modus operandi is to induce the public to invest in their business with a promise of a 5 percent monthly income from their investment which will be locked-in for a one-year period.

Subjects gave a tour to the investors and free rooms to those who have invested at least P1,000,000 as part of their modus. However, the complainants observed that the accused were not allowed to enter any junket room. They just merely pointed to the junket rooms and told them that it is their junket operations.

On 24 November, Team Z’s leader Hector Aldwin Pantollana was arrested by members of the interpol at Bali, Indonesia. He was deported back to the Philippines on 27 November.