Eve and Judas did that, too

Hope springs eternal in the human breast. That’s a very old and very well-known saying. Apparently it continues to be true, because now we are hearing about the victims of the ignominious scam wrought by the heartless operators of the Aman Futures group in Mindanao, still hoping to get back their money. We are talking about the P12 BILLION in lifetime savings of both wealthy and destitute people there who had heeded the siren song of the Aman people, and willingly, even eagerly, withdrew their bank deposits, cracked their piggy banks, in the hope of doubling of trebling it in a few days.

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Well, the government is truly concerned over their plight, especially for those who have nothing left, not even their jobs, being already retirees. I am sure what the Aman people did was a grave crime, a sin that cries to heaven for vengeance, so to say, but, I have no doubt that they have all kissed their money a final goodbye. Even if the swindlers are apprehended, would they still be carrying around the money? Yesterday’s reports said that some of the enraged investors in the Aman group had broken into the offices of the company.

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We do not know what they expect to get, or even find, but surely it is not their money. Police in the area are concerned that the desperate ones may take some drastic action, and we hope not. Two wrongs won’t make a right, and they would only find themselves in greater trouble. But will this be the last of such scams in the country? I think it was less than 10 years ago when some other groups with similar modus operandi had also gotten into the news, with some of its officials even accounted for. But did that warn or deter the gullible ones from falling into the trap? The loot of the scammers even got bigger in this latest one. When will they learn? Sadly, I believe the answer is “Never.” If not greed, then naivete will still lure them into the web.

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I guess we can say that such is human nature. Even in Biblical times, those have been the motivations of those who fell into traps set by the cunning ones. Remember Eve living an idyllic life in Eden? When the serpent enticed her with the promise of greater power, she quickly succumbed, and lost all her benefits forever. And there was Judas, to whom 30 pieces of silver were enough to make him betray his Master. After he repented and tried to return the loot, and could not do it, he killed himself. I hope none of the Aman victims get to think of ending their own lives, too. Maybe the government should provide them with counseling so they do not get tempted to do that.

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But this malady is likely to get worse before things get better. Late news reports said another similar operator has been exposed in Pagadian, that, so far, had already duped several of some P1 BILLION. This one was identified as the Coco Rasuman Group whose office was raided by the National Bureau of Investigation yesterday. The establishment, called the Visionaries 2020, was found to be operating without a business permit, and, in only about six months of operation, had already collected so much. The NBI team found out that there are already about 300 investors in Visionaries 2020, so far, and that the clients did not get official receipts, just temporary, unregistered ones for their money.

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At least there were some employees, including the manager, who were rounded up by the NBI at the Visionaries office. And, also as damning, they also seized some guns from the place. One of the investors, obviously a Muslim, is said to have “invested” P100 million, but he was only asking for a dialog with the company, and did not look so agitated. Maybe he had already made some profit in his initial investment, so that he had cut his losses? I won’t be surprised if more such companies crop up in other parts of the country soon.

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Virtually side by side with the stories about the investment scams, was the report about the focus on the charges against the former chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, or Pagcor, Ephraim Genuino. Wasn’t he the official who was in hot water in the previous election for accusations that he was using Pagcor funds and resources to finance the candidacy of his son? Well, he is back in the news, not only for the cases he shares with former President Gloria Arroyo and Pagcor board member Manuel Morato, but also for a deal involving a Japanese businessman and some P800 million, again in Pagcor funds.

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In the meantime, warnings are out against the activities of credit card scammers who are reported to be activating themselves now that the Christmas season is nearing and people are expected to have more cash with bonuses and other employment perks. Perhaps it would be wise to just use cash while shopping, since the authorities have discovered that the swindlers have very sophisticated ways of replicating credit cards, without the knowledge of the establishments accepting them. The best warning should be to carefully be on the lookout, whether using cards or handling cash.*

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