Latest news with #BernardYang
GMA Network
4 days ago
- GMA Network
2 nabbed for alleged illegal sale of chainsaw
In just two months, authorities arrested a third person for allegedly selling a chainsaw illegally online, this time, a 65-year-old woman in Kidapawan City. The woman was arrested during an entrapment operation. Personnel of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Unit-12 and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-SOCCSKSARGEN (DENR-12) arrested the suspect after she allegedly offered a 36-inch chainsaw for sale on Facebook without proper permits. Authorities seized the chainsaw and a mobile phone allegedly used in the transaction. DENR-12 said the operation was conducted after online monitoring and surveillance. Meanwhile, the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group reported that a 46-year-old man was also arrested for the alleged online sale of a chainsaw without permits in Agusan del Norte. 'We remind the public that the sale and use of regulated tools like chainsaws require proper authorization. Unauthorized online selling of such equipment violates the law and poses risks to our environment. The PNP ACG remains firm in enforcing regulations to protect both public safety and natural resources,' PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group Acting Director, Brigadier General Bernard Yang, said. The two suspects are facing charges for violation of the Chain Saw Act (RA 9175) and Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175). In May 2025, a 28-year-old man was arrested in an entrapment operation for allegedly selling a chainsaw online illegally in Alabel, Sarangani. Authorities said the suspect was selling the chainsaw for P15,000 on social media. The suspect did not have a permit that authorized him to sell the regulated equipment. The suspect claimed he was unaware that selling a chainsaw requires a permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), selling a chainsaw requires both business registration and a special permit from DENR.
GMA Network
04-07-2025
- GMA Network
2 men arrested in Las Piñas for selling fake money online
Two suspects were arrested in Las Piñas City for selling fake money online, the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) of the Philippine National Police said Friday. In a statement, the ACG said the suspects, identified as 18-year-old 'Usa' and 30-year-old 'Agila,' were arrested in an entrapment operation on Wednesday. This was in response to the report from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) regarding the online sale of counterfeit banknotes. The Northern District Anti-Cybercrime Team conducted cyber patrolling and caught a social media post by one of the suspects offering a counterfeit P1,000 bill for only P150. Seized from the suspects were 150 fake P1,000 bills sold for P22,500 during the operation. The suspects are facing charges for illegal possession and use of false treasury or banknotes and other instruments of credit under Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. 'The sale of counterfeit currency online undermines our financial system and exploits the trust of unsuspecting citizens. Let this serve as a warning to those attempting to use the internet to circulate fake money,' ACG chief Police Brigadier General Bernard Yang said. 'The PNP ACG is actively monitoring these platforms and will act decisively to bring offenders to justice as we remain committed to protecting the public and preserving the integrity of our currency,' he added. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
02-07-2025
- GMA Network
94 individuals arrested over 'scam raffle' event in Tarlac
Nearly 100 individuals were arrested during an alleged illegal raffle event in San Vicente, Tarlac. According to Jun Veneracion's report on '24 Oras' on Thursday, about 200 cops raided the raffle event that was being live-streamed. Among those arrested were the financiers of the raffle. The event also did not have a permit from the government. 'Doon sa venue 1,000 mahigit yung tao doon and based on the law on illegal gambling, financiers, bettors, everybody puwedeng makasuhan. Sinegregate lang muna namin yung mas malalaking pasimuno,' said Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group acting director Police Brigadier General Bernard Yang. (More than 1,000 people were at the venue at that time and based on the law on illegal gambling, financiers, bettors could be charged. We prioritized the big people behind it.) For only P20 per ticket, one can win P2 million worth of prizes, including a brand new SUV. But authorities found out that the raffle winners are already predetermined. 'As alleged, wala talagang legitimate winners na na-identify. As alleged, sabi ng mga ibang tumataya, yung mga nanalo it belongs doon sa inner circle, parang luto na ito,' said Yang. (As alleged, there were really no legitimate winners identified. Other bettors also claimed that the winners were those part of the inner circle.) The operators of the illegal raffle draw have operated for five years using the 'tambiolo system,' the report said. The draws used to be done monthly in various parts of Luzon. The arrested suspects are now detained at the Tarlac Provincial Police Office for illegal gambling charges. GMA Integrated News is trying to reach out to them for comment. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
26-06-2025
- GMA Network
Over 5,000 arrested for cybercrimes in 1st half of 2025, says PNP
More than 5,000 persons linked to various online crimes were arrested in the first half of 2025, according to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) on Thursday. Police Brigadier General Bernard Yang said the number of arrests is a reflection of the growing sophistication of cybercriminals and the intensified efforts of authorities to clamp down on scams, fraud, and identity theft across digital platforms. 'For this 2025 from January to June, mid-June, we have already arrested 5,099 (persons) on various offenses online. We can call these cybercrime cases,' he said during a Bagong Pilipinas public briefing . According to Yang, most of the suspects who were nabbed for online scams fall within the 20 to 30 years old age bracket, unemployed and are predominantly men. POGO links Yang revealed that a significant number of suspects were found to have previously worked for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), with some taking part in cybercriminal activities after the closure of many POGO firms as a result of the nationwide ban. 'Mostly ay mga dating nagtrabaho... dating security guard, yung iba former employee of POGOs… dahil nag-stop yung POGO operation sa Pilipinas, nagsagawa sila ng kanilang racket ng online scams,' he said. (Most are former POGO workers—some were security guards, others ex-POGO employees—who turned to online scams after POGO operations ceased in the Philippines.) Authorities also observed the widespread misuse of SIM cards in these scam operations, with several suspects having over 100 pre-registered SIMs when they were arrested. 'Mayroon siyang dala na registered SIM cards na kung minsan sobra pa sa isang daan... bakit mayroon isang individual nakakapag parehistro ng maraming SIM cards?', said Yang. (One person we apprehended in an entrapment operation had over a hundred registered SIM cards... which raises the question of how a single person can register that many cards?) Coordination, legislation The PNP-ACG is now working closely with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to investigate and block suspicious SIM cards and numbers used in cybercrime activities. 'I-report po namin ito sa NTC para ma-block na po yung numbers na iyon,' Yang said. (We report these cases to the NTC so those numbers can be blocked.) Yang also recommended tighter enforcement of the SIM Registration Act by placing a cap on the number of SIMs a person can own. 'We recommend na sana hindi marami yung i-register ng isang tao. Marami na po siguro yung 10,' he added. (We recommend limiting the number of SIM cards a person can register. Perhaps a maximum of 10.) The PNP is also pushing for stricter regulation of social media platforms under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, and for these companies to establish physical offices in the Philippines. Increasing fake PSA calls and e-wallet thefts Yang confirmed the PNP has also received reports of phone calls where scammers impersonating representatvies from government agencies such as the Philippine Statistics Authority attempt to steal information tied to national ID details or e-wallet accounts. 'Habang kausap itong tao... nababawasan na yung laman ng kanyang e-wallet,' he said. (While the victims are still on the call, their e-wallets are already being drained.) The PNP official stressed the importance of identifying and prosecuting the people behind these scams, in addition to blocking their numbers. 'Kami po ay nag-file na lang ng kaso pag nag-identify natin kung sino sa likod... i-re-report namin talaga sa NTC,' Yang said. (We file charges once we identify those behind these scams and report the phone numbers to the NTC.) Not even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was spared after Yang also addressed recent concerns of a video generated by artificial intelligence that is circulating in social media showing the Chief Executive endorsing online investment platforms. 'When I received that video... we coordinated with the social media platform... we requested for the takedown of that video,' he said. Warning to the public With the rise of cybercrime scams, Yang urged the public to remain vigilant, to avoid giving personal information and account access to strangers, and to verify the source of suspicious communications. In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, Yang said the PNP-ACG will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to curb cybercrime. —RF, GMA Integrated News
CNA
04-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Industry group calls for retail lease reforms amid soaring rents, including limits for foreign tenants
SINGAPORE: Optical retail chain managing director Bernard Yang has been hit by a double whammy in recent years – sluggish sales and rising operational costs, including rents. These pressures led Nanyang Optical to make some tough choices at its Marine Parade outlet, like cutting the hours of its part-time staff and downsizing its unit by almost half. 'In our years of running retail in Singapore … (rent has) been going up all the time. It's a question of how much,' Mr Yang told CNA. "If we were to keep the same unit, I think it's going to be very tough moving into the future, because I do see consumers' spending habits changing quite a lot. People are very comfortable buying online, going overseas,' he added. Because of this, the company is focusing on growing its e-commerce platform and could adopt a 'hybrid retail' model in the future. Soaring rental costs – a long-standing pain point for businesses – prompted the Singapore Tenants United for Fairness (SGTUFF), a cooperative representing more than 700 business owners, to release a new white paper in recent weeks. The group noted that rental costs can take up 30 to 50 per cent of revenue for food and beverage as well as retail businesses. 'Without legislative intervention in this area, many of the remaining small local players will not be able to survive,' it said in the white paper. 'Singapore as a whole will also be poorer off when what remains of our local shopping and dining vibrancy and sense of community gets further wiped out.' While retail rents across Singapore stayed stable in the first quarter of the year, falling 0.5 per cent according to the Urban Redevelopment Authority, an average of 450 retail stores shuttered monthly within that period. Last year, more than 3,000 food and beverage (F&B) establishments closed in the country – the highest in almost two decades since 2005. Owners told CNA then that rising operating costs, including rent, took a toll on their business. RENTAL CAP AMONG SUGGESTIONS SGTUFF is calling for retail lease reforms that include a cap on rental lease renewals, more prime spaces for local players, and penalties for landlords if they keep the shops empty for more than three months. It also recommended policies to address what it calls 'new and foreign players' with deep pockets and low-cost supply chains, who are willing to pay premium rents. Among its policy suggestions are an additional property tax for non-local retail tenants, reduced foreign worker quota, and higher levies for foreign workers. It has also called on the government to find ways to release more retail space not just to private landlords, but social enterprise cooperatives or private entities that are not purely for profit. SGTUFF chairperson Terence Yow said the group's idea of a cap on lease renewals came from other developed markets around the world such as Japan and Sweden, where rent renewals for commercial spaces are pegged to a formula or measure like the consumer price index. 'We think that such indexing of rent renewal increases is very fair … and is a fair reflection of market conditions, rather than very arbitrary or mercenary … price increases, which are too much of a shock for businesses today,' he told CNA on Monday (Jun 2). IN TALKS WITH AUTHORITIES Mr Yow also said that while retail leases currently must comply with a code of conduct for fair negotiations between tenants and landlords, this is not enough. 'We think (it's) ultimately about a very short supply of prime retail spaces versus still existing and new demand,' he noted. 'Whether they are new local players or big foreign players, (they are) continuing to express interest, and are willing to pay and bid for very high rentals and pay well-above pocket prices for local labour.' He said the surge in rental costs is an 'urgent issue' that the group has raised for some time now. But a 'confluence of forces' like labour shortages and lower consumer spending has intensified the situation, prompting renewed calls for action. It is in talks with Enterprise Singapore and hopes to reach some agreements in the coming months. 'We recognise that it is a symbiotic relationship. Tenants need landlords to do well and landlords need tenants to do well,' Mr Yow added. 'So we hope over the next few months, we can quickly come to some agreement on what are the right, urgent, short- and long-term measures, and start to implement some of them.' 'YOU WILL SEE THE BOTTOM FALLING OUT' Analysts said that the problem is unlikely to resolve soon, particularly as more international firms continue entering the Singapore market. 'If it's a safe haven with the geopolitical uncertainties, people will try to look to Singapore to invest, and they do not know the environment - and they are doing it not necessarily for capitalistic reasons alone, and because there's this safe haven element in it,' said Savills Singapore's executive director for research and consultancy Alan Cheong. '(Being in a) safe haven doesn't necessarily mean that you need to eke out a positive economic value-add to themselves and to the economy. 'Consequently, the ecosystem by the local established chains, F&B, retail industries also get affected by this weight of money coming in.' This would lead to foreign brands dominating prime locations in malls, Mr Cheong warned. He suggested that beyond slowing or freezing rent hikes, landlords can help stabilise the market by showing social responsibility rather than chase higher-paying tenants. CNA contacted all major landlords, most of whom declined to comment. Lendlease – the developer behind several malls like 313@somerset and Jem – said it takes a tailored approach to support tenants through different stages and formats, such as pop-up stores. Mr Yow warned that if things do not change on the rental front, 'copycat malls' will start popping up and people will not be incentivised to try their hand at running small businesses. 'I think you will see the bottom falling out. I think you will continue to see … an acceleration of local small players – many of whom have been in business for 5,10, 20, 30, years – continue to drop out from the market because it's just not sustainable,' he said. 'They cannot just keep increasing their prices. It doesn't work that way.'
