BUTUAN CITY - Three individuals allegedly involved in an investment scam known as Forex Trading, fell into the hands of Bayugan City police operatives during a coordinated law enforcement operation in Agusan del Sur province.

In a phone interview on Thursday, Maj. Dorothy Tumulak, Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 (Caraga) public information officer, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the three suspects have standing arrest warrants for syndicated estafa issued on Dec. 20, 2019 by the Regional Trial Court Branch 7 in Bayugan City.

"The arrest warrants were implemented on Wednesday afternoon after our police personnel in Bayugan City received information on the presence of the three suspects in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur," Tumulak said.

She added that the three were in hiding for more than a year after their arrest warrants were issued.

The suspects were identified as Aileen Miranda dela Cruz, 36, of Purok 3, Barangay Salimbugaon; Domindador Degorio dela Cruz, 56, of Purok 14, Poblacion; and Joel Goloran dela Cruz, 45, of Purok 16, Poblacion, all in Prosperidad town.

They were arrested in their respective residences at about 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Tumulak said.

In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, PRO-13 Director, Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., said the three suspects were workers of the Forex Trading investment scheme founded by Dimber dela Cruz Celiz.

"The founder, Dimber dela Cruz Celiz, was already arrested last Nov. 12, 2020 in Iloilo City," Caramat said.

He said the Forex trading firm is one of the Ponzi investment schemes that victimized residents in the region.

"The scheme offers impossible high returns and pays investors using the money contributed by later investors that victimized thousands of Caraganons," Caramat said.

He urged the residents in the region not to be enticed by any investment scheme that promises high returns.

"The Philippine National Police in Caraga will implement the full force of the law to stop any fraudulent schemes and put them behind bars," Caramat said. (PNA)