The Philippine National Police arrests a suspect behind an online work scam following a successful collaboration with the country’s leading finance app GCash. The scam involves luring a victim to accept online tasks requiring investing money to earn a commission.

The suspect was identified as 21-year-old female Danica Dela Cruz Valdez, a resident of Balayong, Malolos City, Bulacan. Valdez had initially paid the victim for the first milestone to gain trust. With the succeeding tasks, Valdez then required the victim to complete the entire project first before the commission could be given, for which the suspect required more investment money. The victim agreed and sent payment to the suspect’s bank accounts. Later, Valdez introduced additional problems involving a crypto account that coerced her victim to send an additional payment, banking on the victim’s desire to get paid once and for all. In the end, the scammer collected P314,080 from the unsuspecting victim.

As part of its ongoing initiative to educate the public on how they protect themselves from scams and other financial cybercrimes, GCash continues to remind its users to practice extra vigilance and awareness of the various modes of scams.

“Having millions of users and with the end goal of financial inclusion, online safety tops the priorities of GCash. We remain steadfast in our dedication to ensuring the security and protection of our users. We shall remain faithful to our collaborative efforts with the Philippine National Police in swiftly addressing any scams, fraud, and cybercrime,” said GCash mobile wallet operator G-Xchange, Inc. head of legal Atty. Gilbert Escoto.

While intensifying its cooperation with law enforcement authorities, GCash also urges users to be extra vigilant of online scammers and fraudsters. When making transactions on the app, users are reminded never to disclose their MPIN or One-time PIN (OTP). With the rise in phishing incidents, users are strongly advised to never click links, especially from unknown senders.

For help and assistance, contact the PNP-ACG via their hotlines at (02) 8414-1560, 0998-598-8116, or email at acg@pnp.gov.ph

To report scams and fraudulent activities, visit the official GCash Help Center in the app or at help.gcash.com, message Gigi, and type, “I want to report a scam.” GCash will never send private messages to ask for personal information, especially the MPIN and OTP.

Customers can also contact the official GCash hotline at 2882 for queries and other concerns.(PR)

CAMP VICENTE LUKBAN, Catbalogan City– The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of Eastern Visayas convened for its quarterly meeting on March 13, 2024, in Tacloban City. Highlighted in the meeting are the notable achievements on counter insurgency and the maintenance of peace and order in the region.

The meeting was presided by RPOC Chairperson and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, alongside council members and officials from the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) of the Philippine Army, Police Regional Office (PRO) 8, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other member agencies.

Lieutenant Colonel Manuel B. Degay Jr., the Operations Officer of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Storm, provided an update on the council’s Internal Security Operations in Eastern Visayas.
One of the significant updates highlighted was the joint efforts of RPOC-8 and the Regional Task Force 8 in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC), resulting in the degradation of the capabilities of four Sub-Regional Committees (SRC) and one Island Committee of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) during the first quarter of the year the confirmation from the National Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (NJPSCC) regarding the dismantling of P2, IC Levox, and Elcon Platoon, SRC Browser.

Furthermore, significant achievements included the neutralization of the Secretary of SRC Sesame during an encounter in Borongan City, Eastern Samar on January 6, 2024, the capture of nine high-powered firearms and other Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) items in Calbayog City, Samar on February 4, 2024, and the neutralization of two NPAs including one high-value individual during an encounter in Albuera, Leyte on February 10, 2024.
Major General Camilo Ligayo, Commander of 8ID, emphasized that these accomplishments were the result of the collaboration efforts of RPOC-8 member agencies, which significantly contributed to the ongoing fight against EVRPC.

“This year, we aim to completely eradicate and achieve total victory against the EVRPC. This goal will be realized through significant advancements in our anti-insurgency efforts, highlighting the undeniable strength derived from our collective endeavors. United as a cohesive force, we pave the way for lasting peace and progress across Eastern Visayas,” Maj. Gen. Ligayo emphasized. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – Mayor Lovell Yu-Castro of Alangalang, Leyte announced that more students from her town will benefit from the distribution of bicycles through the ‘Libreng Sakay’ Program initiated by the municipal government.

Mayor Yu-Castro stated that she has already signed a purchase request to initiate a bidding process for the acquisition of additional bicycles, which will be allocated to Learners at Risk of Dropping Out (LARDO).

The identification of beneficiaries for the program involved collaboration with school officials from Alangalang, including district supervisors, central school principals, and secondary school heads.

Initially, the municipal government distributed 117 bicycles using the 2023 Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) Fund. The plan now is to procure an additional set of bicycles using the 2024 LCPC budget.

The municipality aims to distribute more than 100 bicycles to LARDOs studying in elementary and secondary schools with reported cases of dropouts.

Mayor Yu-Castro explained, “Our dropout rate varies across districts, with some having only one or two dropouts, while others, like one high school, have more than 20 dropouts, including our night high school.”

“We are particularly focusing on schools with high dropout rates, such as Alangalang Agro-Industrial School and Alangalang Night High School, to assist students in returning to their studies and reaffirm their commitment to education,” she added.

During a stakeholders’ appreciation meeting held by the Department of Education Leyte Division last November, Alangalang Night High School was identified as one of the schools requiring intervention due to an increasing dropout rate.

Common reasons cited for students discontinuing their education include job searching, lack of interest, poverty, relocation, and family issues.

To address dropout cases, the DepEd Leyte suggests providing free transportation as one of the interventions that local government units (LGUs) can implement.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The vehicle allegedly belonging to San Isidro Mayor, Leyte, Remedio Veloso, was ambushed on Thursday around 3:10 pm while traveling through Alangalang town, also in Leyte.

The police have yet to determine the perpetrators behind the attack.

The mayor’s vehicle, a Toyota pick-up driven by Ranel Reubal, 44, was traveling along a national highway in Barangay Dapdap, Alangalang, when the suspects, who were aboard a Navarra pick-up, appeared and opened fire on the vehicle.

Reubal sustained a gunshot wound to his lower back, while his companion, Carlo Emman Pauligue, 44, remained unharmed.

The local police, led by town police chief PMaj Joshua Bien Chiquillo, are currently conducting an investigation to identify those responsible for the attack.

Leyte provincial director, Col. Erwin Portillo, condemned the incident and directed the Alangalang police to apprehend the suspects.

“I am deeply saddened upon receiving this report. I have already instructed the chief of police of Alangalang to investigate this incident thoroughly and make every effort to gather evidence, including reviewing CCTV footage in the area to identify the assailants,” Portillo stated.

“As of today (Thursday), all municipalities in Leyte province will be placed under full alert status,” he added.

This is not the first time Mayor Veloso’s vehicle has been targeted in an ambush.
On December 21, 2022, another vehicle belonging to Veloso was attacked by armed suspects while traveling in Kananga, also in Leyte.

Veloso’s sister, Juanita Veloso, was injured, while his wife, Leleena, and driver, Edmil Bacay, were unharmed.

As of now, Mayor Veloso has not issued any statement regarding this latest attack. San Isidro town is part of Leyte’s third congressional district, which has experienced several shooting incidents in the past, mostly involving barangay officials.

On March 8, approximately 389 police personnel were deployed to various towns in the district to address the shooting incidents.

Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla had earlier instructed Col. Portillo to put an end to these incidents in the district, which comprises Calubian, San Isidro, Villaba, Tabango, and Leyte.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA /ROBERT DEJON)