Moneeze Bernardo
- Amy Perez denies connection to Paysbook amid photos of her and posts on social media linking her to the firm
- Securities and Exchange Commission has informed the public that Paysbook is not permitted to operate as an online investment firm in the country
- People found doing unregistered investment schemes may be prosecuted and held criminally liable
Filipino television show host Amy Perez denied yesterday her connection to an online investment firm, when her photo with a man working under the company circulated online.
The noontime show host of It’s Showtime wrote on her Twitter account, “FYI IM NOT CONNECTED OR EVEN PART OF THIS “PAYSBOOK” THING. MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO HK TO CELEBRATE OUR ANNIVERSARY. That guy in the picture asked me if pwede mag picture kami and i said ok but boy yung caption mo ay iba na!”
https://twitter.com/amypcastillo/status/1108006692438986755?s=20
The photo displays the actress-show host smiling with a man in an airplane bound for Hong Kong. The caption of the post insinuated that she is part of the Paysbook qualifiers who got a trip to Hong Kong.
https://twitter.com/amypcastillo/status/1108096358429261824
In a report from BusinessWorld in January this year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned investors from a firm called Paysbook E-Commerce System Corp. that recently registered with the agency as an electronic commerce system provider, same as the dissolved Paysbook E-Commerce System Co. Ltd.
Paysbook allegedly sells account activation codes to the public in return for profits simply by just logging in and out of its website, and recruiting people to join the scheme.
“The department has also received information that members and affiliates of Paysbook have circulated on popular social media website numerous photos of its officers appearing before this department, implying [that] all the company’s issues with the Commission have already been settled,” SEC issued.
According to the Commission, Paysbook is not permitted to operate as an online investment firm in the Philippines. “Since the operation of the corporation, despite having a separate and distinct juridical personality, is a mere continuation and extension of the actual operations of the dissolved partnership. The advisory is hereby extended to apply to Paysbook E-Commerce System Corp.,” it said.
Althor R. Sandigan, the man believed to be in the photo with Perez, replied to the TV personality’s Twitter post, explaining his side of things:
“I want to explain my side, Hope mabasa ni ma’am Amy Perez ito. Intindihin ng mabuti ung original caption ko. . At wala pong sinabi na member cxa ni paysbook. May iba kc na gumawa ng sari sariling caption about this post at naging Fake info ang nangyari.”
@amypcastillo ito po post ng CEO NAMIN LAST NOVEMBER 10 2018. . pic.twitter.com/IMk5KOZyIQ
— Althor R. Sandigan (@r_sandigan) March 20, 2019
I want to Explain my Side Hope Mabasa ni mam Amy Perez Ito
Intindihin ng mabuti ung original caption ko. . At wala pong sinabi na member cxa ni paysbook. .
May iba kc na gumawa ng sari sariling caption about this post at naging Fake info ang nangyari
@amypcastillo pic.twitter.com/nkwNd2KRCe
— Althor R. Sandigan (@r_sandigan) March 20, 2019
The commission also cautioned the public that employees acting as brokers or salesmen and recruiting others in any unregistered investment scheme may be indicted and held criminally liable, and if found guilty, may be jailed for up to 21 years, and pay a maximum of P5 million or both.
