Casino junket scam sub-leader caught in Baguio City

Art Dumlao — December 5, 2024

Casino junket scam sub-leader caught in Baguio City

BAGUIO CITY (December 3, 2024) -- A sub-leader of the casino junket scam syndicate that reportedly scammed at least P4 billion “investments” from 10,000 victims in the highland Cordillera alone finally fell after supposed months of surveillance by authorities.

 

Only identified for now by the police as “Master”, 41,  the sub-leader of the “Team Z” casino junket group was caught at barangay Kabayanihan here on November 28 by intelligence operatives of the Baguio City police armed with an arrest warrant for syndicated estafa issued by the Baguio Regional Trial Court.

 

“Master” which turned out to be Mark Stephen Alzona, tagged as number 3 in the top most wanted persons of the CIDG-Cordillera, was among the 18 other ring-leaders of the casino junket group earlier indicted at the Regional Trial Court branch 60 here of syndicated estafa, together with brothers Hector and Hubert Pantollana, Virgino Martin Casupanan, Hazen Humilde, Jerrt J. Cuapingco, Hein Humilde and several others.

 

No bail was recommended for “Master’s” temporary freedom.

 

Earlier that day when “Master” was caught, Hector L. Pantollana, who fled the country last year, was deported back to the country after Interpol caught him in Bali, Indonesia while enroute to Hong Kong.

 

Pantollana together with ring-leaders of the casino junket group are facing over a dozen Warrants of Arrest for syndicated estafa in Baguio City alone, while several hundreds more victims of the syndicate are raring to file formal charges in the National Capital Region.

 

A group of complainants from Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna has organized and have created its own self-help “Task Force Against Pantollana, etc.” to pursue criminal cases taking cue from the Baguio and CAR victims’ example of formally suing the scam ring leaders.

 

August last year, at least 300 “Team Z” victims flooded the National Bureau of Investigation-Cordillera prompting the indictment of Pantollana and the casino junket scam ring leaders, Though only Pantollana and Alzona had been caught.

Time to Pass the Torch: Why Political Comebacks Are Not the Answer

Time to Pass the Torch: Why Political Comebacks Are Not the Answer

By Malou Laxamana Pascual • May 5, 2025
As the May 12 election nears, a quiet but growing movement is making itself heard in Baguio City. It does not come from the traditional campaign stage or the usual political dynasties. It is not funded by machinery or driven by name recall. It comes from the ground, from the young, and from those who are tired of the cycle. Tired of the same names, the same faces, the same families. Tired of watching opportunity slip away as public service is reduced to a personal brand.
ASEAN bloc called on to protect journalists, media freedom

ASEAN bloc called on to protect journalists, media freedom

By Art Dumlao • May 4, 2025
ASEAN bloc called on to protect journalists, media freedom
Abra lawmaker tops RPMD Foundation’s job performance assessment

Abra lawmaker tops RPMD Foundation’s job performance assessment

By Art Dumlao • May 3, 2025
Abra lawmaker Menchie Bernos bested five of her Cordillera congressmen-colleagues at the most recent job performance assessment ‘Boses ng Bayan' by RPMD Foundation Inc. (RPMD).