The city police and the Anti-Crime Task Force (ACTF) of the city government disrupted the operation Thursday afternoon of a suspected investment scam operating in Barangay San Manuel.
Col. Marion Balonglong, PPCPO director, identified the group as the World United Tribal Maharlika Beneficiaries Federation Incorporated (WUTMBFI).
“[This group] is promising them na may darating silang regalo or cash, or in kind. Ito ay ni-report ng ibang mga nire-recruit and then ikinoordinate namin kay [San Manuel] barangay captain and officials [at] in-assist nila kami doon together with sir Richard Ligad at saka ‘yong mga tauhan po niya (ACTF),” Balonglong said.
He said that the joint operation was conducted at around 1:30 p.m. on July 4 to verify the alleged bogus organization.
Balonglong said that the group is requiring people a payment of P200 upon recruitment for the issuance of identification cards after they fill up the membership forms.
During the operation, the police saw 104 members at the WUTMBFI’ office, mostly senior citizens from different barangays of the city.
Ligad posted the video of the operation that was conducted on his Facebook account.
In the video, a certain Lilia Asuncion Lorzano was identified as their “provincial tribal governor”.
Sources told Palawan News that Lorzano is a resident of Aborlan town.
Palawan News tried to get Lorzano’s side but she was not answering calls and later shut off her two phone numbers.
Meanwhile, Balonglong said that the group’s officers and representatives were invited to their office.
The PPCPO is still in the process of profiling and investigation.
However, none from those recruited is willing to file any case against the organization.
The group cannot show any document that authorized them to legally operate from the city government or from the leadership of San Manuel.
Balonglong warned the public against bogus organizations that try to deceive them.
“Isang mahalaga po dito ay maging babala sa ating mga kababayan na huwag tayong magpani-paniwala doon. So far newly identified ito, pero kung legal sila isa dapat may mga kaukulang documents,” Balonglong said.
