Rufa Mae Quinto surrenders following arrest warrant

Rufa Mae Quinto on Wednesday surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in relation to a case she is facing following an arrest warrant issued by a Pasay court.

Quinto was on a Philippine Airlines flight from San Francisco, California in the U.S. with her family and landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 at past 5 a.m., according to a report by on "Balitanghali."

NAIA - NBI Chief Jimmy De Leon said Quinto's lawyer coordinated with the NBI for her voluntary surrender.

Quinto underwent a medico-legal examination before being brought to a Pasay court.

The comedienne is facing a case in relation to the issue of Dermacare, the same company involved in the arrest of actress-entrepreneur Neri Naig.

Atty. Mary Louise Reyes, Quinto's lawyer, previously said that she is charged with 14 counts of violation of Section 8 of the Securities Regulation Code, which states that securities such as shares and investments may not be sold in the Philippines without a registration statement duly filed with and approved by the SEC.

She clarified, however, that Quinto is not facing a large-scale estafa complaint.

"She will face those charges... mag-voluntary surrender siya and magpo-post po kami ng bail for that. She's worried kasi hindi naman totoo 'yung allegations kasi my client po is just a brand ambassador, a model-endorser," Reyes said.

"Ni hindi sa kanya nakapagbayad ng downpayment, tapos 'yung mga tseke po puro tumalbog. Lahat po 'yan hawak naman po namin 'yung ebidensya, ipe-present namin sa court," she added.

In September 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released an advisory about Dermacare-Beyond Skin Care Solutions, saying that the company was not authorized to solicit investments because they are not registered and have no license to sell securities.

In the same advisory, the commission said that salesmen, brokers, dealers, agents, promoters, influencers, and endorsers of Dermacare may be sued.

—with additional reports from Jade Veroique Yap/JCB, GMA Integrated News