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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Money laundering charges filed with DOJ vs 'operators of cryptocurrency scam' arrested in Pampanga

Money laundering charges filed with DOJ vs 'operators of cryptocurrency scam' arrested in Pampanga

Published Oct 13, 2023 11:14 am

Money laundering complaints have been filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against those arrested last May 4 during a raid of alleged cryptocurrency scam operations at the Sun Clark Valley Hub Corporation located at the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone in Mabalacat City in Pampanga.

The filing of the complaints was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday, Oct. 13, by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) led by the DOJ.

But the IACAT statement did not disclose the names of those charged. Copies of the complaints were not available as of posting.

IACAT merely said in its statement: "This case serves as a powerful message to those involved in such illicit activities that they will face severe consequences under the full force of our laws."

The council said the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) took “decisive action by filing a criminal case of Money Laundering under Republic Act No. 9160.”

It also said that “the PNP-ACG and its collaborative partners remain steadfast in their commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of trafficking victims, while relentlessly pursuing justice.”

The IACAT statement said the complaints were filed on Friday, Oct. 13 in close coordination with IACAT, Clark Development Corporation, and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

On May 4, 2023, the PNP and other IACAT-member agencies conducted operations at the Clark Sun Valley Hub Corporation which was reportedly found engaged in cryptocurrency scams.

IACAT said that “ law enforcement authorities successfully executed a rescue operation, liberating over 1000 victims of human trafficking.”

“Aside from the liberation of the victims, several vaults were found within the premises, which led to the seizure of money therein,” it said.

Earlier, the DOJ had said that it had filed in court criminal charges against eight foreigners who were arrested during the May 4 raid.

DOJ said: “In a Resolution dated 22 May 2023, the Prosecution Task Force on Trafficking Cases of the Department of Justice, approved by the Prosecutor General, indicted the Eight (8) respondents for violation of Section 4(j)(2), in relation to Section 6(c) and (o), in further relation to Section 10(e) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, as amended by RA No. 10364 and further amended by RA No. 11862."

A copy of the resolution has not been made public since then. The DOJ has not identified those charged in court and to which court the cases were filed.

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