Police fail to serve Ken Chan warrant of arrest at Quezon City home

Authorities on Friday attempted to serve actor Ken Chan with a warrant of arrest for charges of syndicated estafa.

The actor was not in his Quezon City home at the time of the visit, and police have no information regarding his current whereabouts.

Under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code, syndicated estafa is non-bailable and punishable with lifetime imprisonment.

Atty. Joseph Noel Estrada and Atty. Maverick Romero of Estrada & Aquino Law Office represent the complainant, a businessman between 40 to 50 years old who wishes to be anonymous. They confirmed to press during the visit that Ken and seven co-accused are facing charges following an alleged investment scam.

In a "24 Oras" report by Marisol Abdurahman on Friday, Estrada said that Chan convinced the client to invest in an alleged restaurant business to receive a 10% monthly interest.

“Siya mismo ang actively nag-solicit. Humingi ng pera dun sa complainant, sa aming kliyente, at sabi ay invest sa restaurant business… [Siya ay] nangangako na ito ay magbibigay ng monthly, malaking interest na kita. Nagsara na [ang business], nagtago na [siya] at nawala na ang negosyo kaya nagkaroon ng kaso,” he said.

(He actively solicited money from the complainant, our client. He said it would be for a restaurant business...promised that this would have big interest returns monthly. [The business] has closed, [he] hid and the business is gone so the case was filed.)

According to a report on GMA Network, the lawyers said that the money given to Ken and his group amounted to P14 million.

"I think, base doon sa complaint, mga dalawang bigayan in less than a year," Estrada said.

Estrada added that Ken and his co-accused are not authorized to solicit investments.

"Using misrepresentation and fraudulent escapes, nakakuha sila ng pera against dito sa complainant."

Police first attempted to serve Ken with a warrant of arrest in September. Ken was also a no-show at the time.

According to Marisol Abdurahman's report on "24 Oras" on Friday evening, Estrada said that it was Ken himself who convinced the victim to invest in his business, promising a 10% monthly interest in profit.

"Siya mismo 'yung actively na nag-solicit. Humingi ng pera dun sa complainant, sa aming kliyente, at sabi ay i-invest sa restaurant business at nangangako na ito ay magbibigay ng malaking interest, monthly interest na kita," said Estrada.

"Nagsara na, nagtago na, at nawala na 'yung negosyo kaya ho nagkaron ng kaso," he added.

Meanwhile, on Friday's "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda," host Boy Abunda reported that there are other individuals who have also allegedly filed a separate case against Ken.

"May iba pa diumanong mga indibidwal ang nagsampa rin ng separate case laban kay Ken. We are closely monitoring the story and as soon as makakakuha kami ng impormasyon ay ibabahagi po namin ito sa inyo," he said.

According to a report on PEP, it was in 2022 when the alleged investment deal was discussed. In 2023, the complainant filed a formal complaint against Ken and his group.

Meanwhile, Ken has been posting photos of sights in New York on his Instagram Stories. It is not clear when the photos were taken.

GMA News Online has reached out to Ken for comment. His camp has declined to comment on the issue. —CDC/JCB, GMA Integrated News