Tagum police file raps vs. 2 investment firm execs

DAVAO CITY -- Police authorities in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, filed Monday a case of large-scale estafa against officials of a firm involved in a shadowy investment scheme.

Capt. Anjanette Tirador, Tagum City Police Station office-in-charge, said they are filing large-scale or syndicated estafa against Kenneth Nagas, CEO of Questlink Digital Marketing Service and the firm's operations manager, Rojie Estrellienta Sabando.

Tirador said the case is based on the complaint of Christian Estabes, who identified himself as the local coordinator for the company who voluntarily surrendered to the police on June 13.

Estabes, 23, a native of Surigao City, accused Nagas and Sabando of fleeing with some PHP200 million of "pay-ins" or money paid by investors to join the company's get-rich-quick scheme, Tirador said.

Estabes alleged that Nagas and Sabando started accepting "pay-ins" in a hotel in Tagum City on June 1 this year, and would rely on him to deliver the collections to them.

However, Estabes said that when it was time for the company to pay some of the investors, Nagas and Sabando disappeared along with the money and could no longer be contacted.

He said he was compelled to voluntarily surrender after the company's agents and clients started asking about their "payouts".

Estabes said he also decided to turn himself in to clear his name and for safety after a number of investors threatened him.

Tirador said a number of Questlink members have already registered their complaints after Estabes, who promised he would cooperate with authorities, surrendered to the police. (PNA)