Call center syndicate busted in S Philippines

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Philippine Police here arrested on Wednesday up to 78 Chinese nationals from Taiwan for allegedly operating illegal call center hubs used for extorting on their compatriots in Davao, southern Philippines, police said Thursday.

The arrests at Buhangin, Matina and Talomo districts in Davao at 3 pm local time were carried out as a joint operation by local law enforcers and their counterparts from Taiwan, according to Ronald dela Rosa, Davao City police chief.

Dela Rosa told Xinhua the operation was conducted after related department in Taiwan sought the assistance of the Philippine police to crush the alleged international syndicate ring.

The police chief said based on their two-month surveillance, they found out that some of the suspects would pose as call center agents and blackmail their victims into paying purportedly their outstanding water, electric and telephone bills.

"Some of them would call the victims and coerce them into paying up or else they would refer them to the police. Others from the group would then pose as the police and tell the victims to pay up or else they would be charged before their courts. The helpless victims were forced to pay for fear," said the police official.

The raiding team was accompanied by Davao City vice mayor Rodrigo Duterte who assured the suspects their basic rights will be respected.

Seized during the operation were laptops computers, cellphones and other electronic devices allegedly used by the syndicate.

Dela Rosa said the suspects, which included 47 males and 31 females even attempted to destroy the laptops.

"They would be deported. They will face charges back in Taiwan," said the police official.