Philippine Prosecutors Pursue Opsytech for Defrauding Investors of ₱14.95M

The Department of Justice of the Philippines has filed criminal charges against Opsytech Corp., its president Carl F. Chao, and two company agents, Jeffrey Lopez Perez and Brent Bendaña, for allegedly soliciting illegal investments from the public. The move follows a complaint filed by the Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In a resolution dated November 21, 2025, state prosecutors said there was prima facie evidence to charge Opsytech and its officers for violations of the Securities Regulation Code (SRC), in connection with the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

According to the SEC, Opsytech offered a so-called “business loan agreement” to raise funds for its capital expenditures. Investors were promised monthly returns of 2% to 9% on a minimum investment of ₱100,000, locked in for one year. To guarantee payouts, the company issued postdated checks.

However, complaints revealed that while investors initially received returns, the checks later bounced or were dishonored due to insufficient funds or closed accounts. Sixteen complainants reported losses totaling about ₱14.95 million.

The DOJ ruled that Opsytech’s loan agreement constituted an investment contract, as it involved pooling funds from private investors in exchange for guaranteed returns. Prosecutors upheld the SEC’s finding that Opsytech was not authorized or registered to sell or distribute securities under the SRC.

The resolution stated that Chao, Perez, and Bendaña misrepresented Opsytech’s legitimacy, presenting “an elaborate show” to convince investors to part with their money. It added that the coordinated actions of the defendants demonstrated conspiracy to defraud the public.

In a separate case this month, the DOJ ordered the filing of criminal charges against Modesto Cardano Market Cap Tr3ding Services OPC and its officials for illegally soliciting investments from the public.