‘Scam brains’ home for New Year, thanks to downgraded raps

The alleged pyramid scam leader based in Caloocan City who duped an estimated 20,000 people nationwide to the tune of P120 million was released from police custody earlier this week.

Norbert Doria, president of Direct Marketing Group International (DMGI), a “multilevel marketing” company with offices at North Matrixville Subdivision, Barangay 177 in Camarin, walked out of detention on the night of Dec. 28 from the Northern Police District (NPD) Special Operations Unit after posting a P22,000 bail.

Earlier that day, Judge Remigio Escalada Jr. of Branch 123 of the National Capital Regional Trial Court issued a release order after the complaint against Doria was downgraded to estafa from the nonbailable offense of syndicated estafa, the original offense cited by eight DMGI members who sued Doria.

Reached on the phone on Thursday, Escalada said he acted on the  recommendation of assistant city prosecutor Darwin Cañete. However, the judge said he could not immediately recall Cañete’s reason for the downgrade, citing the many pending cases he was handling.

Doria was arrested on Dec. 17 in an entrapment operation of the NPD, which acted on a complaint from Bernadette Duetiz, a DMGI member from Laguna province. Duetiz took part by meeting the suspect and offering him P60,000 purportedly to help save the firm from bankruptcy.

Also named respondents in the complaint are DMGI officers Michael Awa, Gerardo Caguindacan, Mitch Doria and Marlyn Arcilla, who remain at large.

In an earlier interview, PO2 Nepthalie Buensuceso, the officer on the case, said the 8-month-old company attracted potential recruits with a “double-your-money” scheme and a monthly 4-kilo ration of “Angelica” rice delivered to their homes.

But the payouts stopped in November and checks earlier issued to members bounced. Buensuceso said the company’s supposed earnings to be paid out to members are estimated at P120 million.

Doria’s arraignment is set this March 14.