Navy vouches for junior officer whose stolen info used for Pogo ops

The ongoing Senate inquiry found that a number of individuals may have fallen victim to identity theft after their names appeared as among the “incorporators” of hundreds of Pogo companies. —photo by Jun A. Malig

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy on Wednesday vouched for its junior officer who fell victim to identity theft after being tagged as “incorporator” of hundreds of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo) companies.

Navy commander John Percie Alcos backed  Lt. Jessa Mendoza, who is also a law graduate, after being tagged as incorporator of 193 Pogo companies.

“As we take cognizance of the apparent commission of identity theft implicating the name of Lt. Jessa Mendoza—a Philippine Navy junior officer of good repute—as director or incorporator in several companies involved in offshore gaming activities and other businesses during the ongoing Senate inquiry, the Philippine Navy affirms our support to our fellow serviceman in her resolve to prove her innocence and clear her reputation,” Alcos said in a statement.

READ: Senator urges SEC probe of incorporator identities

“We can attest to Lt. Mendoza’s untarnished record in her decade of honorable service in the Philippine Navy, always upholding the core values and highest standards of being a respectable naval officer,” he continued.

Mendoza appeared before the Senate Committee on Women and Children, who is leading the investigation on Pogos,  to clear her name.

READ: Alleged co-incorporator claims Bamban Pogo stole her identity

“I affirm the truthfulness of my statements and emphasize that I am not affiliated in any of the 193 companies listing me as a corporate officer, director or incorporator,” she said.

Mendoza also said she received notices from the Bureau of Internal Revenue over violations of companies with “foreign sounding” names, which she initially ignored.

However, Mendoza received a subpoena from the Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati asking her to submit a counter-affidavit over violations of a certain company which forced her to shell out over P100,000 to avoid jail time.

Alcos said the Navy conducted a formal internal inquiry to shed light on how the identity theft occurred.

He also reminded the public “to seriously practice safety precautions to prevent identity fraud especially in an increasingly digital world replete with cyber crimes.”