By Jeffrey Damicog
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents arrested last week a man who makes fake ATM and credit cards during a raid on his condominium unit in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
NBI spokesman Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin identified the suspect as Gerard Joseph Liwag.
Liwag was nabbed on Oct. 9 by the NBI’s Cyber Crime Division by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 160 and search warrant issued by Makati RTC Branch 41.
During the search, the NBI found in his condominium unit 80 pieces of various cards and fake identification cards including a passport.
The NBI also seized sophisticated gadgets he has been using in his illegal activities such as a HITI card printer, embossing machine, Fargo high definition printer, removal storage device, skimming device, laptops, point-of-scale card terminal, HUB, and Java blank cards.
The suspect was charged before the Department of Justice (DoJ) for fraudulently using and illegally producing ATM and credit cards in violation of Republic Act 8484 (Access Device Regulation Act of 1998) in relation to RA 10175 (The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012). Liwag also has a pending case before Pasig RTC Branch 160 for the same offense.
Lavin said the case stemmed from the complaint filed by a big commercial bank against Liwag.
Based on information, Liwag is a member of an organized syndicate engaged in the use and manufacture of the fake ATM and credit cards.
The syndicate has been targeting malls and and casinos in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu.