More investors to sue One Dream over scam

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines  – More victims of an alleged investment scam perpetrated by One Dream Global Marketing Inc. are expected to file charges against the officers of the firm.

Batangas Vice Gov. Mark Leviste yesterday said several other victims from the cities of Lipa and Balayan in Batangas have signified their intention to file charges against One Dream president Arnel Gacer, his wife Jobelle and 10 other officers of the company.

A complaint for syndicated estafa was filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the Gacer couple, Ariel Gacer, Richard Ramos, Jay-Ar de Guzman, Marlon de Guzman, Judith Itoh, Jun de Guzman, Lui de Guzman, Linda de Guzman and Joel de Guzman and Michael Bagasbas.

Leviste accompanied the first batch of victims in filing the complaint on Tuesday.

Senior Superintendent Omega Jireh Fidel, Batangas police director, said the task force created to investigate the alleged scam would coordinate with concerned government agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Inspector Hazel Luma-ang, Batangas police spokesman, said the victims were advised to visit the nearest police station.

On Wednesday, a group of 300 victims from Quezon City trooped to DOJ to file a complaint.

Led by Christian Salazar, the group said they lost P12.7 million to the scam.

Like the victims from Lipa City, Salazar said they were duped by Gacer and his officers into investing their savings in the multi-level marketing scheme.

“In the beginning, they were still delivering their promised pay-out so we were really convinced that it was okay to invest more. But last July 11, they stopped paying out and could no longer be contacted,”Salazar told reporters.

Last Tuesday, 18 victims from Lipa filed their complaint.

Under the scheme, an investment or “pay-in” of P888 was supposed to grow to a “pay-out” of P1,300 after just four days.

The complainants said the company also offered a P44-per-slot commission for every direct referral.

“Buoyed by our natural desire to similarly profit from such scheme and because of the company’s continuous assurance and pretensions that we will indeed profit, we placed various sums of money with the company and obtained several referrals,” the victims stated in their complaint.