Customs chief Biazon, 33 others charged over 'pork' scam

MANILA, Philippines - Presidential ally and Bureau of Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon is among the 34 individuals charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday for their supposed involvement in the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. Justice Sec. Leila de Lima said in a televised news conference that those included in the second batch of cases in the pork barrel scam were charged with malversation of public funds, graft and corruption, and direct bribery. Among those charged are seven former congressmen including Biazon, who allegedly got kickbacks from pork barrel funds that were diverted to bogus non-government organizations of suspected scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, who was also charged again on Friday.

The lawmakers and the amounts of their supposed kickbacks are:

Salacnib Baterina (1st district, Ilocos Sur) - P7.5 million
Biazon (Muntinlupa) - P1.95 million
Marc Douglas Cagas IV (1st district, Davao del Sur) - P5.54 million
Douglas Cagas (1st district, Davao del Sur) - P9.3 million
Arrel Olano (1st district, Davao del Norte) - P3.1 million
Arthur Pingoy Jr (2nd district, South Cotabato) - P7.5 million
Rodolfo Valencia (1st district, Oriental Mindoro) - P2.41 million
De Lima said Biazon, Baterina and Cagas coursed their pork barrel funds to the Philippine Social Development Foundation, Inc. (PSDFI)

She said four more lawmakers should also be charged but they are already deceased. The others who were also charged on Friday include two representatives of congressmen, three heads and seven employees of implementing agencies, 12 state auditors and two presidents of alleged fake NGOs set up by Napoles.

Representatives of lawmakers

Zenaida Cruz-Ducut - former Pampanga 2nd District Rep and agent of Baterina, Biazon, Cagas and Pingoy)
Celia Cuasay - representative of Valencia

Heads of agencies

Alan Javellana - former president, National Agribusiness Corp. (NABCOR)
Antonio Ortiz - former director general, Technology Resource Center (TRC)
Dennis Cunanan - former deputy director general, TRC

Napoles NGO presidents

Mylene Encarnacion - Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic and Development Foundation, Inc (CARED)
Evelyn de Leon - PSDFI

Employees and officials of implementing agencies

Victor Cacal - NABCOR
Romulo Relevo - NABCOR
Ma. Ninez Gaunizo - NABCOR
Ma. Julie Villaralvo-Johnson - NABCOR
Rhodora Mendoza - NABCOR
Francisco Figura - TRC
Marivic Jover - TRC

NABCOR resident auditors

Annie Recabo
Rebecca Aquino
Bella Tesorero
Susan Guardian
Elizabeth Savella
Merle Valentin
Diana Casado
Aida Villania
Laarni Lyn Torres
Herminia Aquino

TRC resident auditors

Jerry Calayan
Sylvia Montes

De Lima said they used four standards in determining who should be charged:

- funds involved are from lawmakers' pork barrel
- lawmakers who used Napoles NGOs as conduits
- based on knowledge of Benhur Luy and other whistleblowers
- supporting documents from the Commission on Audit covering 2007 to 2009

She also explained that the filing of the second batch of cases was delayed since the DOJ tried to cover other periods other than the years 2007 to 2009. Last July, Biazon offered to resign from his post after Pres. Benigno Aquino III berated in his State of the Nation Address the BOC for the alleged incompetence and corrupt practices of some of its officials and employees. However, Aquino did not accept Biazon's resignation offer. Since then, the administration has taken steps to reform the embattled bureau. Biazon is a member of the Liberal Party who ran and lost in the 2010 national elections. He was a part of the senatorial slate by Aquino, then a presidential candidate. The NBI filed the first set of charges last July against Napoles, the suspected scam mastermind, and 37 other individuals for their alleged involvement in the multi-billion peso conspiracy to divert lawmakers' pork barrel funds to fake NGOs and ghost projects in exchange for kickbacks. Five lawmakers were charged for allegedly committing plunder in conspiracy with Napoles and officials of government implementing agencies when they each accumulated more than P50 million through a series of transactions over time through misappropriation, conversion, misuse, and malversation of the cash value of the project cost allocated from the lawmakers’ funds and through their acceptance of kickbacks or commissions. They were Senators Ramon Revilla Jr, Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, former Masbate 3rd district Rep. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete and former Apec Party-list Rep. Edgar Valdez. Former Representatives Rodolfo Plaza, Samuel Dangwa and Constantino Jaraula were also charged for their alleged involvement in malversation, direct bribery, and other graft and corrupt practices: Also charged last September were chiefs-of-staff or representatives of the said lawmakers, heads and officials of three implementing agencies, and several presidents of the NGOs supposedly set up by Napoles. Napoles is currently jailed in Fort Sto. Domingo, Laguna due to the serious illegal detention charges filed by scam whistleblower Benhur Luy, who is also a relative and former employee of the businesswoman. Earlier this month, Napoles testified in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the pork barrel scam, but she evaded questions and refused to divulge her knowledge on the controversy.

Confidence trick

A confidence trick (synonyms include confidence scheme and scam) is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their confidence, in the classical sense of trust. A confidence artist (or con artist) is an individual, operating alone or in concert with others, who exploits characteristics of the human psyche such as dishonesty, honesty, vanity, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility, naïveté, or greed.

1 Terminology
2 Stages of the con
3 Vulnerability to confidence tricks
4 See also
5 References
6 Further reading
7 External links

Terminology

The perpetrator of a confidence trick (or "con-trick") is often referred to as a confidence (or "con") man, woman or artist, or a "grifter". The first known usage of the term "confidence man" in English was in 1849 by the New York City press, during the trial of William Thompson. Thompson chatted with strangers until he asked if they had the confidence to lend him their watches, whereupon he would walk off with the watch. He was captured when a victim recognized him on the street. A confidence trick is also known as a con game, a con, a scam, a grift, a hustle, a bunko (or bunco), a swindle, a flimflam, a gaffle or a bamboozle. The intended victims are known as "marks" or "suckers", and when accomplices are employed, they are known as shills.

In David Mamet's film House of Games, the main con artist gives a slightly different description of the "confidence game". He explains that, in a typical swindle, the con man gives the mark his own confidence, encouraging the mark to in turn trust him. The con artist thus poses as a trustworthy person seeking another trustworthy person.

A short con is a fast swindle which takes just minutes. It aims to rob the victim of everything in his or her wallet.[2] A long or big con is a scam that unfolds over several days or weeks and involves a team of swindlers, as well as props, sets, extras, costumes, and scripted lines. It aims to rob the victim of thousands of dollars, often by getting him or her to empty out banking accounts and borrow from family members.

Stages of the con

In Confessions of a Confidence Man, Edward H. Smith lists the "six definite steps or stages of growth in every finely balanced and well-conceived confidence game." "One follows the other with absolute precision. In some games one or more of these acts, to use a theatrical comparison, may be dropped out, but where that happens the game is not a model one. The reference to the stage is apt, for the fine con game has its introduction, development, climax, dénouement and close, just like any good play. And this is not the only analogy to the drama, for the scenes are often as carefully set; the background is always a vital factor. In the colorful and mirthful language of the bunko man, all these parts of the game have their special names. I give them with their definitions:

Foundation Work

The preparations which are made before the scheme is put in motion, including the elaboration of the plan, the employment of assistants and so forth.

Approach

The manner of getting in touch with the victim—often most elaborately and carefully prepared.

Build-up

Rousing and sustaining the interest of the victim, introducing the scheme to him, rousing his greed, showing him the chance of profit and filling him so full of anticipation and cupidity that his judgment is warped and his caution thrown away.

Pay-off or Convincer

An actual or apparent paying of money by the conspirators to convince the victim and settle doubts by a cash demonstration. In the old banco game the initial small bets which the victim was allowed to win were the pay-off. In stock swindles the fake dividends sent to stockholders to encourage larger investments are the pay-off.

The Hurrah

This is like the dénouement in a play and no con scheme is complete without it. It is a sudden crisis or unexpected development by which the sucker is pushed over the last doubt or obstacle and forced to act. Once the hurrah is sprung the victim is clay in the schemer’s hands or there is no game.

The In-and-In

This is the point in a con game where the conspirator puts some of his money into the deal with that of the victim; first, to remove the last doubt that may tarry in the gull’s mind, and, second, to put the con man in control of the situation after the deal is completed, thus forestalling a squeal. Often the whole game is built up around this feature and just as often it does not figure at all.

In addition, some games require what is called 'corroboration', which means what it says. This is important in games where a banker or other shrewd customer is to be the victim."

Vulnerability to confidence tricks

Confidence tricks exploit typical human characteristics such as greed, dishonesty, vanity, opportunism, lust, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility, desperation, and naïvety. As such, there is no consistent profile of a confidence trick victim; the common factor is simply that the victim relies on the good faith of the con artist. Victims of investment scams tend to show an incautious level of greed and gullibility, and many con artists target the elderly, but even alert and educated people may be taken in by other forms of confidence trick. Accomplices, also known as shills, help manipulate the mark into accepting the perpetrator's plan. In a traditional confidence trick, the mark is led to believe that he will be able to win money or some other prize by doing some task. The accomplices may pretend to be strangers who have benefited from performing the task in the past. A greedy or dishonest victim may attempt to out-cheat the perpetrator, eventually realizing that he or she had been manipulated into losing from the beginning.

Court orders freeze on assets of 4 ex-solons in pork scam

The Court of Appeals has ordered a freeze on the bank accounts and assets of four former congressmen and six chiefs of staff or representatives of lawmakers, led by Jessica Lucila “Gigi” G. Reyes and Ruby Chan Tuason who allegedly acted as agents for Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, for their complicity in the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam believed to be masterminded by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

The four members of the House of Representatives are Rodolfo G. Plaza of Agusan del Sur, Samuel M. Dangwa of Benguet, Constantino G. Jaraula of Cagayan de Oro, and Edgar de Leon Valdez of the Apec party-list group.

The six individuals were Reyes (who resigned as Enrile’s chief of staff early this year), Tuason (who represented both Enrile and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada), Richard Cambe (chief of staff of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.), Pauline Therese Mary A. Labayen (a staff member of Estrada), Jose “Joy” R. Sumalpong (chief of staff of Masbate Gov. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete), and Erwin C. Dangwa (son and chief of staff of former Benguet Rep. Samuel M. Dangwa).

The Inquirer obtained a copy of the notice of resolution from the appellate court which was distributed to banks and financial institutions where the 10 were believed to have kept part of their assets.

Senator Anyim Pius Anyim - Attn Beneficiary

Attn Beneficiary

I am contacting you in my capacity as the Secretary To the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Consequently, I want to inform you that my office is sending this message to you on the instructions of the President, Dr. Good luck Jonathan.

It might interest you to know that late last year[last quarter 2012, His Excellency, Dr. Good luck Jonathan approved the release of all long over due contract, inheritance and lottery funds through ATM CARDS.

Based on that development, some government agencies were directed to contact you and ensure that your ATM CARD is processed and delivered to you.Regrettably, the respective offices and officials given this mandate are yet to submit any reasonable report to the President. Consequently, Mr. President has directed my office to contact you directly in order to get answers to the following questions;

1] HAVE YOU RECEIVED YOUR ATM CARD?
2] IF YES, WAS YOUR ATM CARD ACTIVATED
3]HAVE YOU STARTED WITHDRAWING MONEY FROM THE CARD?
3] DID YOU PAY ANY FEES BEFORE THE CARD WAS SENT TO YOU?
4] IF YES FOR WHAT REASON DID YOU PAY THE FEE?

However, If you have not YET received any ATM CARD, you should indicate immediately. The Presidency wants to use this opportunity to know whether the beneficiaries who have received their funds through ATM CARDS did pay any fees, and whether such fees were authorized and accounted for.

On the other hand, we want to use this opportunity to know the number of beneficiaries who are yet to receive their ATM CARDS.The purpose of this message is to ensure that due process and laid down procedures were followed at all times in issuing the ATM cards to all beneficiaries and to ensure that they are not meant to pay illegal or unauthorized fees.

It might also interest you to know that adequate arrangements have been made for the settlement of all outstanding contract and inheritance funds before the end of this fiscal year, 2013

Therefore,your timely response will be highly appreciated.
Yours faithfully,

Senator Anyim Pius Anyim
The Secretary to the Federal Republic of Nigeria
EMAIL;senatoranyim_piusanyim54@yahoo.com.ph

3000 Scams...

Michael Cole - Private/Highly confidential Subject Matter.

Standard Chartered Bank
1 Basinghall Ave,
London EC2V 5DD
United Kingdom

Private/Highly confidential Subject Matter:

Invitation to act as Next-of-Kin I write this August letter in confidence, believing that it will reach you in high spirit and I believe you will maintain the level of confidence and trust matters of this nature requires. Though, I know that this proposal may make you apprehensive and worried, but I assure you that all will be well at the end. Before proceeding, I wish to introduce myself. I am Michael J Cole, Deputy General Manager, (credit Controls) with Standard Chartered Bank, London. I got your contact from a reliable fellow. The Proposal: An Iraqi Citizen, Mr Hasan Mudi Mohammed, a Business man from Iran made a numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of Twenty Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling (Ј22,500,000.00) only in my branch. Upon maturity several notices was sent to him but there was no word. Again after the war another notification was sent and still no response came from him. We later find out that Mr Hasan Mudi Mohammed and his family had been killed during the war in bomb blast that hit their home.

Valuable efforts have been made by standard Chartered Bank to get in touch with any of late Mr Hasan Mudi Mohammed as beneficiary to his Funds. After further investigation it was also discovered that Mr Hasan Mudi Mohammed did not declare any next of kin in his official papers including the paper work of his bank deposit. And he also confided in me the last time he was at my office that no one except me knew of his deposit in my bank. The Twenty Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling (Ј22,500,000.00) is still lying in my bank and no one has come and will ever come forward to claim it.

What bothers me most is that according to the laws at the expiration of 8 years the funds will revert to the ownership of the Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. In other to avert this negative development, I now seek your permission to have you stand as next-of-Kin into the Funds of Mr Hasan Mudi Mohammed, so that the fund Ј22,500,000.00 will be released and paid into your account as beneficiary, Next of kin. I will help to arrange all documents and proves to enable us get this fund out. I have secured from the probate registry an order of mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiary and more so; I am assuring you that this transaction is risk free. Once the fund is moved to your nominated account, you will be entitling to 30%. Your share stays while the rest be for me and some people I will settle here. You will also be entitle to substantial part from my percentage, in trust for investment. As soon as I receive your acceptance in principle, I will furnish you with the necessary modalities for commencement. Finally, I am relying in my confidence in you, having opened up to you, if however you are not interested, please feel free to destroy this information as I will continue to scout for willing partner(s).

Nevertheless, you can contact me via email for further discussion.

Best Regards,
Michael Cole.