P5.1M offered for release of 17 Chinese nationals — NBI

The alleged supervisor of 17 Chinese nationals who were arrested over scam operations offered authorities P5.1 million for their release, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago said Wednesday.

According to Santiago, NBI agents were offered an amount of P300,000 per individual, totalling to P5.1 million, while the subjects were being transported.

The 17 nationals were arrested for operating scam hubs in Parañaque.

“Tatawag daw siya ng abugado, so pinayagan siyang tumawag. It turned out na ang tinatawagan niya ‘yung mas bossing pa nila at ‘yun nga nag o-offer na ma-release itong 17 tao sa halagang… P300,000 each,” he Santiago said.

(One of the subjects said he was going to call his lawyer, so we allowed him to call. It turned out that he called his boss, who offered P300,000 each for their release.)

Due to this, Santiago said the NBI conducted an entrapment operation and acted as if they were agreeing to the deal.

The alleged Chinese supervisor then brought P1.5 million for the first batch to be released, composed of five individuals.

“During the entrapment operation, minonitor po namin ‘yung galaw nila. After identifying ‘yung vehicle na gagamitin para sunduin ‘yung mga subjects natin, we allowed them to enter itong premises ng NBI para conduct natin at magkaroon tayo ng maayos na pag-entrap,” an NBI agent said.

(During the entrapment operation, we monitored their actions. After identifying the vehicle that they would use to pick up the subjects, we allowed them to enter the premises of the NBI and so we could conduct an orderly operation.)

This led to the arrest of the alleged supervisor.

Santiago said all 18 foreigners, including the supervisor, have undergone inquest.

“Nagkamali sila ng offer. Hindi naman sa pagbubuhat ng bangko, this is the second time na may nag try sa amin mag bribe at pinaaresto ko kaagad sa ating mga kooperatiba,” Santiago said.

(They made the wrong move. Not to toot my own horn, but this is the second time that someone has tried to offer us a bribe and I ordered them arrested.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News