Filipino wanted for estafa back in PH

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, Philippine News Agency

FACING THE MUSIC. Hector Pantollana is presented to the media by the police in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Thursday (Nov. 28, 2024). Pantollana, who is facing charges of estafa and syndicated estafa, was repatriated to the Philippines after his arrest in Indonesia earlier this month. (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)

MANILA – A Filipino wanted for large-scale financial fraud has been repatriated to the country after being arrested in Indonesia.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said the suspect Hector Pantollana arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City at 5:40 a.m. Thursday.

Shortly after Pantollana’s arrival and completion of standard immigration procedures, he was issued 15 warrants of arrest for multiple charges of estafa and syndicated estafa.

Pantollana was arrested in Bali on Nov. 9, through the cooperation of the Philippine authorities with the International Criminal Police Organization and Indonesian law enforcement.

CIDG chief, Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said Pantollana heads a group of scammers who victimized dozens of investors, including overseas Filipino workers and well-known personalities.

“Ito nationwide ang (They have nationwide) operations. We have warrants from Cebu, we have warrants from Mindanao, we have warrants from Visayas, we have warrants in Central Luzon, Metro Manila at kung saan saan pa (and elsewhere). May isang investor nagki-claim PHP200 million na nawala sa kanya (There is an investor who claimed of losing PHP200 million),” Torre said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Torre said the syndicate has “several covers” for their operations.

“They have networking, they have junkets and all the works. Basically they were able to convince people to invest their hard earned money in various businesses that they claim as high yielding and has high returns. Maraming siya co-accused sa mga warrants na kanyang kinakasangkutan. Ipa account pa namin kasi mukhang madadagdagan pa dahil (He has many co-accused in the warrants against him. We will have these accounted and it seems there are more because) as the investigation goes, may mga naidentify na mga panibago (we identify new cases),” he said.

One of the victims in Cavite, whose name was withheld, told reporters the suspects amassed PHP315 million from their group starting in 2022.

In September 2023, they were informed that their money could no longer be returned.

“Buo ang tiwala namin na nag-invest kami (We fully trusted them and invested) only later to find out that it was a Ponzi scheme. Nagi-invest kami sa kanila ‘yun pala ang ini-invest namin ‘yun ang ginagamit nilang pambayad doon sa mga nauna nang mag-invest tapos sarado na pala ang mga junket house. Magaling talaga silang mang-engganyo, sobra kaming na-entice (We invested only to find out that the money we have invested is the same money they are using to pay those who invested ahead of us. The junket houses are already closed. They are good at luring people, we were really enticed),” she said.

Torre, meanwhile, renewed his call for the public to be wary of investment offers that seem too good to be true.

“Those who claim they have an SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registration and promise returns of as high as 15 to 20 percent monthly, don’t believe them. It is most likely that these are scams,” he added.