DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 16 June) — Police officials in Davao Region who are found to have invested in Ponzi-like investment schemes are not only in danger of losing their money or have lost their money, they will also face administrative charges and, possibly, relief from service, Police Major Jason Baria, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 warned.
Baria said PRO director Brigadier General Marcelo Morales will charge them administratively, which might result in the personnel’s relief, as the region’s top police official would not allow unprofessionalism and greed for money to destroy their image and dampen “what we have always strived for: to be a better police force, if not the best.”
“Once PRO 11 personnel are found to be involved in the investment scheme, he (Morales) will charge them administratively under his power/authority,” Baria said in a text message.
Baria said the PRO 11 had not received any complaints against police in the region who invested in the illegal get-rich-quick schemes.
A statement released by the PRO 11 said Morales issued a “stern warning” against the police to prevent being blamed by the public for not taking action against the illegal operations of the investment firms.
“We will not allow the public to throw stones on us by not doing anything that these illegal operations have gone full-scale,” he said. “Let us not forget our mission and vision that we will continue to serve the community loyally.”
President Rodrigo Duterte recently ordered the National Bureau of Investigation and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to shut down Kapa Community Ministry International, Inc. and other similar investment firms offering huge returns similar to Ponzi schemes and warned the people behind these companies that they could be charged with syndicated estafa.
Several branches of Kapa and other similar investment firms had been closed by authorities in several parts of the country last week. (Antonio L. Colina IV/ MindaNews)
