■ 41 DEPOSITORS GET THEIR REFUND FROM LAND BANK

Some Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) depositors who lost their money to ATM skimming received their refund yesterday. Among the 41 depositors who were refunded by the government-run bank was retired judge Meindrado Paredes, who reported that he lost P100,000 in his ATM account. LBP Vice President for Eastern and Central Visayas Manny Infante, however, did not disclose how much the refund is. “What is important is that we already gave the refund and the depositors were thankful,” he said.

The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) has started giving out refunds to its depositors who fell victim to automated teller machine (ATM) skimming.

LBP Vice President for Eastern and Central Visayas Manny Infante said a total of 41 depositors, including retired judge Meindrado Paredes, got their money yesterday.

These depositors lost their money from skimmers since February until this month.

Infante did not disclose how much refund the bank gave.

“What is important is that we already gave the refund and the depositors were thankful,” he said in a phone interview.

Aside from Paredes, an estimated 50 law enforcers discovered that they fell victim to ATM skimming. Government employees were also victimized.

Paredes alone lost P100,000 of his deposited money.

The police had arrested three Romanian nationals who were allegedly behind the unauthorized withdrawals from the depositors’ accounts.

The suspects have allegedly stolen millions of pesos in over a year.

They are believed to be part of an international sydicate.

The three Romanians are facing cases for violating Republic Act 8484, which regulates the issuance and use of access devices and prohibits fraudulent acts, among others. /