ILOILO City – The suspected leader and founder of the alleged investment scam Forex Rice Trading Group in the Caraga Administrative Region (Region 13) has been arrested in Jaro district.
Dimber dela Cruz Celis, a resident of Prosperided, Agusan del Sur, was the “Top 3 most wanted person in Caraga”, according to Captain Dorothy Tumulak, public information officer of the Police Regional Office 13 (PRO-13).
“The Forex Rice Trading Group is involved in the Ponzi scheme that victimized hundreds of individuals in Caraga and Davao region,” Tumulak said.
Celis’ location in Jaro was discovered through a tip-off from a concerned citizen.
Several victims in Caraga commended the PRO-13 for the apprehension of Celis in Jaro on Nov. 12 by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 13 (CIDG-13), intelligence branch of the PRO-13 and the Agusan del Sur police.
A 52-year-old businessman from Agusan del Sur said victims like him were seeking justice and remuneration from Celis and her alleged cohorts, although he was skeptical if they could still recover their money.
“I am not sure if we can still get the amount we invested. But she must be put behind bars for this mess,” the businessman, who asked anonymity for security reasons, told the government-owned Philippine News Agency.
He said he lost more than half a million pesos in the Forex investment scam.
Other victims sought for comment declined to provide details on how much investment they poured into Forex. Still, they commended the law enforcement authorities for arresting Celis.
They also expressed doubt if they could recover their investments, although they said they would pursue the case against Celis and other suspects in courts.
PRO-13 director Brigadier General Romeo Caramat Jr. said Celis is facing charges of large-scale syndicated estafa in a regional court in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.
In a statement, Caramat said the court recommended no bail bond for Celis. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
