By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday assured prompt action against criminal syndicates preying on senior citizens and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
NBI Director Jaime Santiago made the assurance to Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo who met with him regarding several complaints that have reached the latter’s office.
Santiago encouraged OFWs and senior citizens who fell victim to scams to immediately report to their office.
“Bukas po lagi ang office namin sa mga OFW at senior citizens na naloko ng mga sindikato at itinakbo ang kanilang ipon (our office is open to OFWs and senior citizens victimized by syndicates that robbed them of their savings),” Santiago said in a news release.
“Magtutulungan po kami ng opis ni Senator Erwin para matugunan ang mga problemang ito ng OFWs at seniors (We will be working with Senator Erwin to respond to these problems).”
The problem of the OFWs, Tulfo said, is that they do not have enough time to file a complaint because they are only in the country for a short period and need to immediately leave for work abroad.
“Ang problema kasi ng mga OFWs natin hindi nila alam papaano habulin ang suspek dahil limited ang araw nila sa bakasyon dito sa ating bansa (The problem of our OFWs is that they don’t know how to go after the suspects because they are only here in the country for vacation),” the incoming senator said.
“Ang mga seniors naman na naloko ay mahina na rin para habulin o hanapin ang mga nag-estafa sa kanila (Seniors who are duped are too weak to go after or search for those who swindled them).”
Tulfo also assured that once Senate session opens in July, he would file a proposed bill to impose a punishment of life imprisonment to anyone who would swindle OFWs and senior citizens of their hard-earned savings. (PNA)
