THE National Bureau of Investigation – Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) arrested six officials of a corporation allegedly involved in an investment scam in Quezon City
NBI Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Eric Distor identified the suspects as company officials of i7 Global Corporation (I7 Global), namely Florentina Sapala, CEO/President; Alvin Soriano, VP-Sales for Luzon; Alexander Duran, VP-Sales for Mindanao; Christian Sales, VP-Marketing; Jane Vergacer, Assistant Finance Manager; and Wilfredo Pogoso, mentor.
Distor said the NBI received information that i7 Global is allegedly selling and offering for sale to the public investment securities without a license from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Upon initial investigation, it was learned that officials of i7 Global, through its Facebook account, posted an invitation for a business presentation in the afternoon of May 14, 2022 in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
NBI-AOTCD undercover agents attended the event where the i7 Global officials introduced themselves as mentors and proceeded to present the company’s business scheme.
The officials assured that their health products are registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The undercover agents pretended to buy an investment pages, and upon verification with the FDA, it was learned that the products they are offering are not registered with the agency, and the company itself has no existing record with the FDA as an establishment licensed to sell health products.
Aside from this, the SEC certified that i7 Global was not given any license to act as an investment company, and likewise certified that Sapala, Cordova and Duran and other i7 Global officials were not given Certificate of Registration or license as capital market professionals.
After the extensive verification, the undercover agent contacted Soriano and made arrangements with the suspect on how to hand over the P3-million investment.
This was also the time that NBI-AOTCD mounted the operation at the agreed meeting place where the suspect was arrested holding the marked money.
The suspects were presented for inquest proceedings at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office and are now facing charges of Syndicated Estafa, and violation of the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and Securities Regulation Code of the Philippines.