Nelson Morales

Couple in P5B investment scam falls in Occidental Mindoro

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Authorities have arrested in separate operations a couple who allegedly conspired with their secretary in one of the largest investment scams in Batangas that amounted to billions of pesos.The Alitagtag Municipal Police Station first arrested the company’s secretary, Apply Joy Templo, 29, at her rented home in Barangay Poblacion 2, Balayan, Batangas. Templo ranked number 5 on Batangas’ provincial most wanted list for syndicated estafa, based on a warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 253 in Las Piñas City. Using the same arrest warrant, the Cuenca Municipal Police Station, in collaboration with authorities in Occidental Mindoro, arrested Ronald Rivera, 34,  president and CEO of the company, and his wife Shielan Criscel Rivera, 34, in the town of Calintaan. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/12/banks-e-wallets-given-a-year-to-comply-with-fraud-management-system-1041">Banks, e-wallets given a year to comply with fraud management system </a> </div>According to Maj. Charlie Reyes, chief of Cuenca Municipal Police, they immediately kept a close watch on the couple’s location after confirming the arrest warrant against them. The couple was able to put up a batching plant in Occidental Mindoro despite numerous complaints from investors who fell victim to their fraud in Batangas. “Secluded yung area and the same time ginagawa na nilang office sa araw,” Maj. Reyes said. “Nag-open pa sila ng isang batching plant doon last month so yung ang minomonitor naming simula ng naging active sila sa Occidental Mindoro,” he added. Some of the victims turned to the Department of Justice in 2023 for help. Most of the victims were from Batangas, particularly from Lipa and Cuenca, where losses amounting to hundreds of millions of pesos were reported. Some were also victimized by the couple in Metro Manila and as far as Northern Luzon. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/2/public-warned-scam-calls-on-the-rise-1847">Public warned: Scam calls on the rise</a> </div>“Base po sa isang biktima na kausap ko, nag-invest sila sa batching plants, supplier ng mga aggregates, isang councilor ng bayan at yung iba ay mga businessman dito sa Cuenca at Lipa” Maj. Reyes said. It was in 2021 when the couple’s company allegedly started soliciting people to invest in their venture with promises that profits would nearly double in a short period. The couple allegedly told investors that there were numerous orders for their aggregates and that the return of their investment would be quick. To prove the business was legitimate, the suspects even toured the investors around their plant. “Yung batching plant po ay isang plant basically na nagpo-process po ng mga raw materials and components po para sa semento. Ang sand and cement industry po sa ating bansa ay napakalaki dahil yan po ay basic component ng ating mga infrastructures, so yun po ang ginamit nila. And in fact, ang isa sa mga akusado ay part or rather I believe shareholder, ng isang batching plant which give them appearance of legitimacy,&quot; said Atty. Francis Sabili, legal counsel of some of the victims. &quot;Ito po ating mga akusado ay nagpepresent po ng mga documents na mayroong appearance ng purchase of legitimacy katulad po ng mga purchase request at purchase orders.&quot; &quot;Sa pamamagitan po ng mga purchase orders na ito sir ay nacoconvince po ang mga biktima na magbigay ng pera in exchange of the promise of the return of the investments,” added Sabili. Because of the large profits promised, many invested millions of pesos. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/6/13/5-chinese-sa-scam-hub-arestado-sa-angeles-city-1855">5 Chinese sa &#x27;scam hub&#x27;, arestado sa Angeles City </a> </div>“In 7 to 10 days average ng halagang kung magbibigay ka sa akin ng P500,000, makakabalik ng P800,000 to P1 million, minimum at least double po. Tapos syempre mae-enganyo ang ating ordinary citizen dahil syempre nababayaran for very  little work, tapos yun babalikan ka ng isa pa, kung P1 million, sige I’ll make,&quot; explained Sabili about the couple’s investment scam. But after a few transactions, the couple failed to return the principal amount, and the profits never came in. The checks issued to investors started bouncing. If all the amounts invested by the victims were put together, it is estimated to reach P5 billion.“According sa aking own examinations, yes meron pong finding na umaabot na po sa ganiyang value yan and ang nakakabahala po dito ay the value came from the statement and documents produced by the accused, dumating po sa kapanahunan na narami na po ang naghahabol,” said Sabili.The couple’s batching plant is said to have ongoing projects in Occidental Mindoro. The suspects declined to give a statement to ABS-CBN News. The court did not recommend any bail for their temporary release. Three more suspects, who are relatives of the Rivera couple, are currently being sought by authorities.

Authorities have arrested in separate operations a couple who allegedly conspired with their secretary in one of the largest investment scams in Batangas that amounted to billions of pesos.

Authorities have arrested in separate operations a couple who allegedly conspired with their secretary in one of the largest investment scams in Batangas that amounted to billions of pesos.