11 detained in Boracay for credit card fraud
Boracay Island -- The Boracay Special Protection Unit has taken into custody 11 members from well-off families for allegedly using fake credit cards.
BSPU chief, Superintendent Remigio Gregorio declined to name the suspects, who were arrested last November 21 this year. The eleven, who have executed waivers permitting to be detained pending the filing of charges, are still with the BSPU.
'They are under investigation. They are not yet suspects, so I don't want that their names be destroyed even though they be eventually cleared of all charges,' Gregorio told The News Today during a phone interview yesterday afternoon.
He confirmed though that those arrested had prominent-sounding names.
'Mayayaman sila (They're really rich),' he stressed. So far, not one relative of those arrested have visited them at the BSPU station.
Bombo Radyo-Kalibo reported that several of those arrested carried the names of Pineda, Tuazon, Quianzon and Arroyo.
Gregorio alleged that the 11 used fake Amixco and JBC credit cards in purchasing items in several establishments in the tourist island. So far, three establishments have already come forward to air their complaint - the Boracay Tourist Center, Rudy Project, and Le Solei.
The police have no exact figures yet involved because the complainants have not given complete statements to them, Gregorio said. But radio reports put the amount at more than P500,000.
'Allegedly malaking amount daw (The amount involved is alleged to be huge), 'Gregorio remarked.
The suspects face charges of violating Republic Act 8484, the statute regulating the issuance and use of access devices, such as credit cards, and providing for the penalties in case of violations.