• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Authorities are investigating the activities of a Chinese-looking woman and her companion, who were engaged in taking photos of Philippine government issued identification cards in Bacolod City.
Atty. Jose Gabriel Jr., executive officer of the National Bureau of Investigation Bacolod District Office, disclosed on Thursday that the Chinese looking woman and her companion, a certain Mark, who is a tricycle driver, has managed to victimize 13 persons already, at the boundary of barangays Estefania and Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, based on their initial investigation.
Gabriel said that the amount of P400 is being offered to the victims, for the suspects to be allowed to take photos of their government issued identification cards, such as driver’s license, or PhilSys (national) IDs.
The woman, who speaks Ilonggo, told their victims that the information from their government issued IDs would be used to open GCash accounts for them, according to the NBI.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson met on Thursday with PCol. Rainier de Chavez, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, to be updated on the modus operandi of the allegedly Chinese-looking woman.
Lacson enlisted the help of the media to make it an “issue,” and talk about it in order to inform Negrenses of a looming scam.
Based on information they got from the victims, Gabriel said that a certain Mark told them that they have already visited other areas in Bacolod City, where his Chinese looking woman companion is carrying a bag full of cellular phones.
He admitted having no idea of whatever transactions were made as a result of the collection of government issued IDs, allegedly for GCash accounts. But Gabriel raised the possibility that it could be also used for online scams, or identity theft, which enables others to assume fake identities.
On the other hand, Lacson called on Negrenses to be vigilant on the arrival of foreigners, not only Chinese, in the province.
“Let’s learn from the experience that happened before in Pampanga, or even in Tarlac,” said the governor, apparently referring to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations in those provinces managed by Chinese nationals.
“Let’s be conscious on that, especially when there are big buildings being built, which is mysterious, although in Negros Occidental, we don’t see it. We see new hotels coming up, condominiums, even warehouses and cold storages. So far, it is okay, as of this time,” Lacson said.*
