Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Try GOLD - Free
Police secure casino scammer in Indonesia prisoner swap
The Philippine Star
|November 23, 2024
Police on Thursday secured the custody of casino junket operator Hector Aldwin Pantollana, who is allegedly involved in a multibillionpeso investment scam, in what appears to be a prisoner swap between the Philippines and Indonesia.
-
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said CIDG agents already have custody of Pantollana, although there is no word yet on when the Filipino fugitive will be brought back to the country.
It is unclear how Indonesian authorities apprehended Pantollana, who allegedly took at least P4 billion worth of investments from thousands of investors in the Cordilleras and other regions in the country.
Pantollana, 35, has at least seven warrants of arrest issued by courts in Metro Manila and the provinces of Quezon and Cavite for estafa and violation of Republic Act 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code.
In return for Pantollana’s custody, Torre said they turned over Handoyo Salman, an Indonesian national who allegedly amassed 900 billion rupees or about P3.3 billion in online scams, to their counterparts in Indonesia.
This story is from the November 23, 2024 edition of The Philippine Star.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Philippine Star
The Philippine Star
Lions, Knights sustain romps
San Beda and Letran toyed with their respective foes yesterday to occupy the top two spots in Group B of the NCAA Season 101 seniors' basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
1 mins
October 27, 2025
The Philippine Star
Gov't decision on proposed air traffic control upgrade expected next month
The private proponent for the upgrade of the country’s air navigation services (ANS) expects the government to decide on its proposal by November, as it underscores the urgency of rolling out the project as soon as possible.
1 mins
October 27, 2025
The Philippine Star
Starve the beast
I found myself in a very high-end steak restaurant in BGC last week, where it was claimed that BBM had one of his birthday celebrations.
4 mins
October 27, 2025
The Philippine Star
Trump co-signs Thai-Cambodia ceasefire deal
US President Donald Trump cosigned a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia in Malaysia during the first stop on his Asia tour, which is expected to culminate in talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
1 min
October 27, 2025
The Philippine Star
NU earns crack at SSL four-peat
Defending champion National University advanced to a fourth straight finals appearance after booting out Far Eastern University, 25-20, 27-25, 25-21, in the 2025 Shakey's Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
1 min
October 27, 2025
The Philippine Star
Asia resilient, yet risks remain - IMF
Economies in the Asia-Pacific region have shown resilience amid external and domestic challenges so far in 2025, posting stronger-than-expected economic growth in the first half of the year, according to the latest Regional Economic Outlook report of the International Monetary Fund (IME).
4 mins
October 27, 2025
The Philippine Star
DILG opens 911 Visayas command center in Cebu
The Department of the Interior and Local Government opened the first 911 regional command center in Cebu City on Saturday, bringing faster emergency response and real-time coordination to the people of Central Visayas, the DILG said yesterday.
1 mins
October 27, 2025
The Philippine Star
Japanese film about man-eating bear delayed after attacks
A recent string of deadly bear attacks has prompted Japanese filmmakers to postpone the release of a gory horror movie with the same theme.
1 min
October 27, 2025
The Philippine Star
222 Pinoys in Myanmar seek repatriation
After a military raid on one of the largest scam centers in Myanmar, 222 Filipinos forced to work in scam hubs in that country have requested for repatriation assistance from the Philippine government, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
1 min
October 27, 2025
The Philippine Star
DepEd: Non-teaching personnel get 2-day WFH
The Department of Education (DepEd) is giving non-teaching personnel the opportunity to work from home (WFH) for two days before the end of October.
1 min
October 27, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size