“I’m the one in debt to you; you should be the one to face me. You can’t keep hiding, please come out,” said ‘Alice,’ one of the victims.
This was the appeal made by alias ‘Alice’ after she spoke with the news team on August 30.
It stemmed from the fact that about 2,300 investors were unable to retrieve the money they entrusted to the farm-to-market scheme, an investment scheme that promised a 60% return from an initial capital of 5,000 pesos.
Since July, the alleged CEO of this farm-to-market investment has been unreachable.
“Think about it, because the people here, how will they recover their money?” said Patrick Alcedo, also a victim.
600 million pesos was invested by about 2,300 members across Northern Luzon.
One month after it was reported, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director ordered NBI Cordillera to file charges against these types of scams.
“The victims of these financial scams were unjustly denied…provisions,” Atty. Daniel Daganzo, Regional Director, NBI-CAR stated.
The biggest challenge remains the filing of formal charges against the perpetrators. Of the 300 complaints filed, none have yet led to a formal case being filed.
“If you don’t cooperate, there’s nothing we can do…that needs to be addressed,” Daganzo added.
If prosecuted, those involved in the farm-to-market scam will face multiple charges of syndicated estafa.
“With the formal cooperation of complainants, we hope to document this deceit…against the perpetrators,” said Daganzo.
For those who have complaints, they can reach out to NBI-Cordillera to ensure action and justice are swiftly served.
**JOSE ROBERT INVENTOR