Skincare Firms Operators Apprehended by PNP-CIDG for Syndicated Estafa

Operatives from the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) arrested two sisters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on September 5, 2026, over a multi-million peso investment fraud scheme involving 38 separate warrants of arrest. 

The suspects, identified as Chanda Atienza, owner of Dermacare – Beyond Skincare Solutions, and her sister Venus Eunizel Gonda, the firm’s operations manager, were intercepted at around 4:45 AM following their deportation from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

The sisters face a barrage of criminal charges across various local courts, including syndicated estafa, swindling, violations of the Securities Regulation Code, and Batas Pambansa Blg. 22 (Bouncing Checks Law). According to the police, four of the outstanding warrants carry no recommended bail, one is for the service of an existing sentence, and the remaining 33 warrants have a combined recommended bail totaling ₱1.967 million. 

A joint investigation by the CIDG Anti-Transnational Crime Unit (ATCU) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed that the suspects actively solicited investments from the public to expand their skincare business. While Dermacare holds a legitimate SEC registration to distribute beauty products, authorities emphasized that it lacks the secondary license required to legally solicit, offer, or accept investment contracts from the public. 

Following the successful operation, Chief PNP Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. reminded citizens to remain vigilant against fraudulent financial offers. Authorities continue to urge the public to thoroughly verify the secondary licensing and legal permissions of any entity offering high-return investment schemes and to report suspicious activities immediately.

Courtesy: Philippine National Police