An NBI agent escorts two of the three Romanian Nationals who were the suspects in the Landbank ATM skimming at the NBI Head Quarter.(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
CEBU CITY–Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) arrested three Romanian nationals who were suspected to have a hand in the series of unauthorized withdrawals from the automated teller machines of a government bank.
The three were taken into custody from a newly-constructed condominium in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City on Friday morning after their facial features matched those of the suspects who allegedly installed skimming devices at the ATM of Land Bank of the Philippines in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.
The NBI was able to get a copy of the footage of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed near the bank’s ATM machines which captured the images of the suspects installing the skimming devices.
NBI-7 Special Investigator Arnel Pura said they were able to secure a search warrant from the court to enter the condominium room of the suspects.
As of 7 p.m. on Friday, details about the whereabouts of the suspects remained sketchy because the agents led by NBI-7 assistant director Dominador Cimafranca were still inside the condominium along with the suspects.
The media were not allowed to enter the premises of the condominium by its security guards as requested by the management.
In a press statement, Land Bank said it was closely coordinating with the NBI to address the unauthorized withdrawals of its ATMs which had victimized at least 50 government officials and employees.
Investigation showed that a skimming device was installed in the ATM of Land Bank branch in Mandaue City. It was removed after the bank management discovered it.
Traces of skimming were also detected in the Land Bank ATM in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.
As a precautionary measure, Land Bank said it blocked over 2,000 accounts to ensure their safety. Concerned account holders were also advised to visit their depository branch to reset their Personal Identification Numbers, the bank said.
” Land Bank assures its clients that these are isolated incidents and that the bank is working closely with the NBI to resolve the issue,” the bank said. It advised the public to take extra measures in protecting their ATM card information.
Senior Supt. Joel Doria, director of the Cebu City Police Office, said at least 15 policemen in the city were victims of the skimming. Of the number, nine are from the police station in Barangay Talamban including its chief, Senior Insp. Arieza Otida.
Based on their own investigation, Doria said a foreign-looking man was behind the skimming incidents last year based on the CCTV footage presented to them by Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who was also a victim.
However, they have a hard time pursuing the suspect because the bank refused to cooperate. “Hirap tayo. Ayaw kasi mag-cooperate ng bank. (We really have a hard time because the bank is not cooperating with us),” he said in an interview.
But Land Bank asked the NBI to investigate and provided the agency CCTV footages of the ATM machines to the NBI. Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998 prohibits obtaining money or anything of value through the use of an access device with intent to defraud or with intent to gain.