Man nabbed in QC for alleged pyramid scam in Occidental Mindoro

Authorities arrested on Tuesday a man suspected to be behind a pyramid scam in Occidental Mindoro.

According to an exclusive report by Cesar Apolinario on Unang Balita on Wednesday, the suspect identified as Gideon Pineda allegedly ran a pyramid scam involving the sale of rice.

The suspect allegedly ran away with more than P1 million invested by a few individuals.

Pineda, 44, was arrested during an entrapment operation at a restaurant in Quezon City after an asset of the Occidental Mindoro Police met the suspect earlier at the latter's house in Barangay Commonwealth.

The suspect was in hiding for three years. Most of the alleged victims were from Occidental Mindoro.

"Involved ito sa pyramiding scam na kung saan kumukuha siya ng pera... At pinangangakuan niya na magkakaroon ng malaking halagang salapi kapalit ng kanilang nilagak na pera sa kanya," Police Superintendent Rossel Cejas, commander of Station 6 of the Quezon City Police District, said.

Angelina Samonte, one of the suspect's alleged victims, said she first met Pineda in 2012. She invested almost P800,000 in the rice business of the suspect. Samonte said she earned P50,000 in three months, but the suspect was nowhere to be found afterward.

Three other alleged victims of the suspect said they invested more than P6,000 in 2012.

Pineda asked for forgiveness from the alleged victims.

"Siyempre hindi naman pwedeng talikuran 'yon. Kahit sinong tao, kailangang bayaran ang nawala," he said.

Pineda will be brought to Occidental Mindoro to face charges of estafa.

Senior Police Officer 4 Aldrin Tividad, chief clerk of the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch (PIDMB) of the Occidental Mindoro Police Provincial Office, asked other alleged victims to coordinate with their office.

"Nananawagan ako sa mga tao na naloko din na makipag-ugnayan sa aming opisina,"  he said. —KG, GMA News