OSMEÑA
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is asking the Anti-Cybercrime Unit of the Philippine National Police for help in identifying the perpetrators responsible for unauthorized withdrawals from automated teller machines (ATM).
Supt. Artemio Ricabo, deputy director for operations of CCPO, said this after Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña claimed he lost P90,000 to an ATM skimming expert who made three unauthorized withdrawals from his payroll account at Land Bank of the Philippines last October.
“This is quite alarming. A syndicate must be behind the unauthorized withdrawals using ATM,” Ricabo said.
In yesterday’s press conference, Osmeña said the theft may have been an inside job.
He said there is already a suspect, but when asked if he would pursue legal action, he said, “It’s a personal thing. I don’t want to comment anymore.
All I can say is it has nothing to do with Land Bank.”
An internal investigation is also being conducted.
“Let me see first the evidence. It is premature to discuss what if, what if,” Osmeña said when he learned that he was asked to forward his complaint to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Unit.
When one of the reporters asked Osmeña what steps he will take after the suspect has been identified, the mayor answered, “None of your business. Sorry. I told you I don’t want to talk about it.”
The mayor advised the public to check their bank balances.
Last month, at least 15 persons also fell victim to the series of unauthorized withdrawals of their ATM accounts known as skimming.
Skimming involves the use of a card reader or a “skimmer” which can be disguised to look like part of the ATM.
Ricabo advised the public to be careful and not to deposit large amounts of money in their ATM accounts.
“It would be better to have passbook savings account instead of putting everything on your ATM,” he said.
He called on other victims of ATM skimming to appear before authorities so they can gather more details on the incident.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who was also a victim of ATM skimming, earlier reached out to other banks in the city, requesting for photos of the supposed suspect.
Last month, the Cebu Bankers Club met with the victims and promised to assist the victims to fast-track the investigation.