Alleged core leader of Japanese JP Dragon crime ring nabbed

Philippine authorities on Tuesday arrested two Japanese nationals, including a high-profile Japanese fugitive, for being involved in various scams.

According to John Consulta's report on "24 Oras," the Bureau of Immigration-Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) said the high-profile Japanese fugitive was allegedly a core leader of the JP Dragon syndicate.

The syndicate was involved in various crimes in Japan while operating in the Philippines.

“Itong grupo na ito nagumpisa sila dahil sila ay magkakakilala bilang miyambro ng Yakuza, at nag-establish sila dito sa Pilipinas ng kanilang grupo," said BI FSU Chief Rendel Sy.

"D’yan nga nagumpisa ‘yung JP Dragon syndicate na kung saan nahuli din natin ‘yung [core leader]... na miyembro din within the group ng JP Dragon. Nagtatawag ng senior citizens sa Japan, sinasabi na naco-compromise ‘yung kanilang credit card kaya sila magpapadala ng kanilang tauhan para maiswap itong credit card.”

(This group started because they knew each other as they were all members of the Yakuza, and they established their group here in the Philippines. That's where the JP Dragon syndicate started, and we also caught the core leader of the JP Dragon group. They call senior citizens in Japan, saying that their credit cards were compromised, so they will send their henchmen to swap their credit cards.)

GMA Integrated News is still trying to get the side of the suspect, who is now held at the BI Detention Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa.

Investment scam

In a separate operation, the NBI-National Capital Region (NCR) arrested a Japanese national and three Filipinos who allegedly scammed a Japanese businessman.

The suspects supposedly tricked the businessman out of P46 million, enticing him into investing in a Small Town Lottery and cockfighting business which turned out to be bogus.

"The scammer got the privilege from PCSO, they asked for his friend to invest P50 million. But actually it was fake," said the complainant.

The suspect, however, denied the allegation. "No, no. Not true," he insisted.

“Hindi natin dini-discount na may nabiktimang Pilipino ang grupo kaya pwede sjla magreklamo dito sa amin para makapagsampa ng kaso,” said NBI-NCR Assistant Regional Director Attorney Joel Tovera.

(We do not discount that the group also victimized Filipinos, so they can file a complaint with us so we can file a case.) — Sherylin Untalan/DVM, GMA Integrated News