Extortion ring busted: 24 Taiwanese fall

CEBU, Philippines - For allegedly preying on their own countrymen through extortion, 24 Taiwanese nationals were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation yesterday noon in their rented house along Tupas St., Buena Hills, Barangay Guadalupe in Cebu City.

Armed with a search warrant, NBI agents together with Taiwanese police entered the five-story house owned by Avelina Vidovic, which was rented by the Taiwanese.

Supervising agent Allan Tubi, officer-in-charge for NBI-7 Cyber Crime Cluster, said the modus of the arrested Taiwanese was to call retired officials in Taiwan and tell them they still have pending cases. They also offer to make these cases disappear in exchange for money.

"Mo-try silang negotiate nga naa kuno'y pending case ang local officials didto... sila'y mo-settle," said Cebu City councilor David Tumulak, deputy mayor for peace and order.

Tumulak, who was able to enter the house, said there were a lot of telephone, documents, cellular phones, and other communication machines used to transmit and receive data.

Tumulak asked Cebuanos to report to the nearest police stations if they notice suspicious persons or any illegal activities in their areas. 

"Makapahibong ngano sa Philippines nagtuo tingali sila nga ing-ana ka lax," he said, adding those arrested are now under the custody of the NBI-7.

The Taiwanese started renting the house last August, the NBI placed them under surveillance for a month prior to the operation after they were approached by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

The caretaker of the house said Vidovic is a Filipina married to an Australian but she no longer lives here in the Philippines.

In September 2015, 43 Taiwanese nationals and 25 Chinese nationals were arrested in different houses in Cebu City for allegedly being part of an extortion ring that also preyed on business establishments. They would threaten them with lawsuits but also offer to fix those lawsuits in exchange for money.

Last April, seven Korean nationals were arrested for allegedly operating an online gambling business in Barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City. (FREEMAN)