Romanians nabbed for ATM skimming in El Nido

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Authorities in Palawan arrested yesterday two Romanian nationals for allegedly installing a skimming device on an automated teller machine in Barangay Villa Libertad, El Nido, to capture card data, or victims' personal identification numbers to create counterfeit cards.

They were identified as Stan Serban Cirpin, 30, said to be a delivery rider temporarily staying at a hotel in El Nido, and Daniel Tuco, 36, who was temporarily living in Brgy. Maligaya in the same town prior to their arrest on 22 March.

The Palawan Police Provincial Office (PalPPO) stated in a police report that the incident occurred around 4 a.m. on Balinsasayaw Street. The victim, identified only as alias Jean, a staff member of Euro Linebridge Logistics Inc., told the municipal police in El Nido that he was conducting routine maintenance on their company's ATM when he spotted two foreigners tampering with the machine.

"Investigation revealed that the victim was about to conduct maintenance on their ATM machine located in Villa Libertad. At that moment, he saw two unidentified foreign nationals installing a skimming device on the machine," stated the police report shared with the media by PalPPO spokesperson Police Major Ric Ramos.

The victim confronted Cirpin and Tuco, but the two men hastily removed the device and fled the scene. A follow-up operation by personnel of the El Nido Municipal Police Station (MPS) eventually led to their arrest.

A gray sling bag, a skimming device, two black wallets, numerous foreign cards—including five 100-euro and eleven 150-euro Buono Carburate cards—a Sandisk adapter, a Banca BT Transilvania card, a Raiffeisen Bank debit card, two Revolut cards, a UK driver's license, and other identification cards were among the items seized from the suspects believed to have been used in the illegal activity.

Authorities also recovered a receipt for a Euronet transaction, a Globe SIM card holder, and a total of 30 Philippine peso banknotes of varying values totaling more than ₱26,000—all marked with unique serial numbers.

Both suspects and the confiscated items were brought to the El Nido MPS. They are facing charges for allegedly violating Republic Act 8484, or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998.