The recent pandemic, a once-in-acentury crisis, took a toll on many lives and forced people to stay home which resulted in the realization among most Filipinos of the need to put their money somewhere safe.

As a result, the investment sector saw a boom. People rushed to put their money in places where it may grow, instead of just parking it in the bank.

The responsibility fell on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to protect the public’s hardearned money from fraudulent individuals and entities.

The SEC took several serious steps, including forging close ties with investigative and enforcement agencies. The SEC also provided information on how to spot scams and when and where to safely invest.

It opened a Campaign Advocacy Network, or SEC CAN, in partnership with government agencies and private organizations to develop investor education and financial literacy programs.

Text blasts were deployed in partnership with the National Telecommunications Commission to warn the public about scams and to be vigilant and always check with the SEC.

The regulator also worked with the NTC to block access to flagged sites.

In addition, the SEC issued weekly advisories. These advisories were posted on the SEC website and on the SEC’s official Facebook page.

The SEC particularly monitored a company that assumed a chameleon characteristic as it morphed to different social media pages but with the same owner.

The Court of Appeals upheld an SEC cease and desist order (CDO) against AlphanetWorld Corp., operating as NWorld, for soliciting public investments without the necessary license.

The CA’s 8th Division found the SEC had followed due process in issuing the CDO, as NWorld was offering investments without registering or obtaining the required SEC license.

The company’s name then transformed into Superbreakthrough Enterprises Corp. to which the SEC also issued a halt order for illegally soliciting investments.

In an order dated 5 December 2024, the commission en banc directed Superbreakthrough Enterprises, which had been doing business under the name 1UP Time, to immediately cease and desist from further engaging in the unlawful solicitation, offer and/or sale of securities in the form of investment contracts without the necessary license from the SEC.

The common denominator in the two firms was Julius Allan Nolasco as their head.

The SEC Enforcement and Investor Protection Department’s monitoring of NWorld and Nolasco led to the discovery of Superbreakthrough Enterprises.