MANILA, Philippines – A total of 385 foreigners are now detained at Camp Vicente Lim, following their arrests for using the Philippines as base of operations for credit card fraud.
Senior Superintendent Ranier Idio, deputy chief of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) told Radio Inquirer 990 AM that 385 foreigners mostly Taiwanese and Chinese are now being processed by the Police, Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Justice (DoJ).
“They violated Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1988. They used telecommunications equipment to defraud its victims,” Idio said, adding that their victims were usually from other countries.
“They only use the Philippines as their base of operations,” Idio said.
He said if the prosecutors found probable cause to pursue the cases against any of the arrested foreign nationals, then they will have to serve their sentences in the Philippines first before being deported to their countries.
“If the prosecutors will dismiss a case against any of the foreigners we have arrested, then they will be immediately deported to their countries,” Idio added.
The 385 foreigners were arrested in simultaneous raids in Quezon City, Marikina, Cainta and Antipolo City.
Idio said they are also investigating a certain Maria Luisa Tan, who is believed to have financed the operation.