2 weeks ago
6
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
CEBU CITY — Denying involvement in a $44-million publishing scam, two Cebu-based business process outsourcing (BPO) executives are seeking support from the Philippine government as they remain detained in the United States on multiple fraud-related charges.
Michael Cris Sordilla and Bryan Navales Tarosa, executives of Innocentrix Philippines in Mandaue City, were arrested in California in December 2024 over their alleged roles in a scheme that scammed more than 800 aspiring authors, mostly elderly, through the US-based company PageTurner Press and Media LLC.
US prosecutors accused the group of duping victims into paying thousands of dollars for exaggerated or fabricated offers to turn books into movies, distribute them globally, or secure speaking engagements.
Innocentrix was tapped to handle offshore operations and support services, including content and design, and has since suspended operations following the arrests.
The legal team of the two Cebu executives insisted the pair had no direct control over sales operations and were unaware of any deceptive practices by PageTurner agents.
Get the latest news
delivered to your inbox
Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
They believe Sordilla and Tarosa are being wrongfully linked to the scheme due to their association with the company's backend support arm.
In a press conference in Cebu City on Friday, their lawyer, Oliver Baclay Jr., said the pair had no prior knowledge of the complaint and described the arrest as sudden.
He explained that Sordilla, who flew to the US partly for vacation and to meet company contacts, was taken without warrant and remains in detention due to a claim by prosecutors that he holds influence in the Philippines.
According to Baclay, the claim of influence was "overblown," likely tied to Sordilla's ties to local celebrities and his executive involvement in Hiyas ng Pilipinas, a national beauty pageant launched in Cebu in 2022.
Sordilla served as the pageant's marketing head, while Tarosa played a role in logistics and branding. Both were among the organizers of the inaugural edition of the pageant, which aimed to promote tourism and culture.
The defense team and supporters have launched a campaign titled "Bring Back Home Michael and Bryan," urging the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in Washington to ensure they are given due process.
The campaign emphasizes their clean records and their contribution to the outsourcing and events industry in Cebu.
Sordilla had reportedly purchased multiple iPhones prior to his arrest, which drew online speculation.
His legal team clarified that these were intended as gifts for staff and family in time for the holidays, a gesture misconstrued by some as extravagant or suspicious.
Innocentrix presented several books it had supported for publication in an effort to demonstrate that its services were legitimate.
The company also emphasized that the accused had no direct hand in client acquisition or marketing offers made by the US-based team.
In the indictment filed by the US Department of Justice, Sordilla, Tarosa, and Chula Vista-based Gemma Traya Austin were identified as co-conspirators in a long-running fraudulent operation.
The scheme allegedly ran from 2019 to 2024 and involved inflated promises and forged contracts to extract money from hopeful authors.
