3 suspects charged with estafa over rice investment scam
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Bacolod City filed estafa charges against three suspects involved in the P25-million rice investment scam before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office Wednesday morning.
NBI-Bacolod District Office chief Renoir Baldovino said the cases were based on the complaints of 10 individuals who are victims of the rice investment scam.
The NBI identified the suspects as Krizia Rhea Gonzaga, Jennifer Nierves and Claire Coleen Latido.
Baldovino said it is up to the court to evaluate the case and upgrade it to syndicated estafa.
On September 16, the
NBI also filed a case for syndicated estafa before the City Prosecutor’s Office against five suspects involved in a rice investment scam in Bacolod.
Baldovino said they charged Gonzaga, Nierves and their three companions, all residents of Bacolod City.
The charges were filed after about 30 complainants sought the NBI’s assistance after they were scammed by the suspects amounting to P40 million.
He added that Gonzaga and Nierves were identified as the principal suspects in the rice investment scam.
Baldovino also noted that based on the statement of the complainants, the suspects encouraged them to invest their money on a rice venture.
“It’s like pyramiding because they will recruit more people to invest their money on rice ventures and the suspects already took about P40 million from the victims,” Baldovino said.
He said some of the victims invested about P10 million and the lowest was P300,000.
“There’s no rice shortage here so how can they earn a big amount of money in just three days? The suspects promised them that they will earn 10 to 300 percent depending on the duration of their investment,” NBIBacolod District Office chief added.
The complainants filed complaints after the suspects failed to give the promised earnings.
Baldovino said based on their investigation, the suspects have no business permit from the Bacolod City government and no registration from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
He added the suspects claimed they have five rice warehouses in Bacolod and were allegedly supplying rice as far as Negros Oriental to entice investors.