June 22, 2012

        The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) apprehended a lawyer who is the president and chairman of a closed credit community bank and rural bank during an operation in Paranaque City early this week.

       The subject is identified as ATTY. ALFEO D. VIVAS, President & Chairman of the closed EURO CREDIT COMMUNITY BANK INC. (ECBI) and RURAL BANK OF BANGUED INC. (RBBI).

    The Office of Special Investigation, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas sought the assistance of the NBI-BSP TaskForce on Bank Fraud Investigation for the arrest of ATTY. ALFEO D. VIVAS, President & Chairman of the closed EURO CREDIT COMMUNITY BANK INC. (ECBI) and RURAL BANK OF BANGUED INC. (RBBI).

        VIVAS remained at large and is accused in the following cases:

   (1) Criminal Case Nos. 1405 T – 1412T (Eight Counts) Regional Trial Court Branch 11 of Tuao, Cagayan. Vivas and one Leonicia B. Garduque were accused of the crime of Estafa through falsification of commercial documents in violation of Art. 315 par 2(a), in relation to Art 171 and 172 of the Revised Penal Code.

  (2) Criminal Case Nos. 2581-2585 (Five Counts) 7th Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Piat, Cagayan

  (3) Criminal Case Nos. 7766 -7769 (Four Counts) Municipal Trial Court of Bangued

  These cases constitute violation of Section 34 of Republic Act 7653 otherwise known as The New Central Bank Act for his refusal to make reports or permit examination of Euro Credit Community Bank, Inc. (ECBI) and Rural Bank of Bangued Inc. (RBBI).

  (4) Criminal Case Nos. 466013 – 466014 (Two Counts) Metropolitan Trial Court Branch XIII of Manila

  These are cases in violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22 committed sometime prior to April 30, 2010.

 (5) Criminal Case Nos. 459683 – 459684 (Two counts) Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 4 of Manila

  These cases emanate from the complainant of JOSE MARS O. ALCRUZ for violation of Batas Pambansa Blg.22.

  Information was received that on June 18, 2012, Atty. Vivas was to appear in a hearing of a case in which he is the private complainant. Thus, an operation was conducted. In the morning of the aforesaid date, NBI agents after coordination with the local police proceeded to the Paranaque Hall of Justice and position themselves strategically at the court's vicinity.

  When Atty. Vivas was about to leave the court's premises, he was immediately approached and apprehended. He was brought to the NBI where he was booked and detained.