Filipino toy collector Yexel Sebastian and his partner, former PBB housemate Mikee Agustin, are currently in hot water after reportedly flying off to Japan while being embroiled in an alleged multi-million investment scam.
According to a report by Interaksyon, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed the couple’s departure to Nagoya City in Japan last Monday, Oct. 9, based on the bureau’s records.
During the Senate hearing held on the same day, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco stated that there were no orders filed against them which granted them their right to travel to another country.
On Tuesday morning, Oct. 10, the toy collector posted a video on his Facebook page with a caption defending himself from the heavy accusations against him and Mikee.
Yexel claimed that the clip was allegedly taken during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a casino in Clark, Pampanga back in 2022.
“Siguro panahon na para ipagtanggol ko ang sarili ko at buo kong pamilya. Ayaw ko sana magsalita dahil kahit magmukha kaming masama at basura sa buong Pilipinas ay tatanggapin ko mai ayos lang ng malumanay at tahimik pero kabaligtaran ang nangyari naging sobrang ingay na,” his caption read.
Yexel expressed worry over his and his family’s safety, which prompted him to clarify the accusations.
He also mentioned an individual named “Hector Pantollano,” whom he claimed to be the owner of the investment company currently under complaint.
He said that the ribbon-cutting event was held at a legitimate casino where “Boss HP thanked the high-ranking officials of the casino and its other branches”.
“Legit ang junket. Legit lahat ang tao at legit ang operation. Hindi yan mapepeke nang kahit sino dahil hindi ka magkaka branch sa isang Casino na Legal, para magka Junket kung illegal ito,” Yexel said, adding that his claims were purely from what they saw at the event.
The alleged PHP200 million investment scam involving Sebastian and Agustin came to the public’s attention when investors approached Senator Raffy Tulfo’s public service program.
Complainant Amal Rosaroso, a former co-host of Wowowin, informed Tulfo that Sebastian had initially stated a minimum investment of P1 million but she ended up giving P2 million.
Rosaroso explained that the minimum investment was P1 million with a five percent interest and that she was promised with a contract.
However, the complainant claimed that they were given a contract of loan that was already notarized, which Agustin pointed out to be similar to an investment contract, especially for first-time investors.
When Tulfo reached out to the couple, Sebastian said that he and Mikee were also investors. The two said that they were impressed with the platform which encouraged them to share it on their social media pages for those interested to invest as well.
They also claimed that the investment was placed in casino junket operations which he clarified were owned by someone else.
Meanwhile, the complainant contradicted Yexel’s statements, accusing them of being evasive, and not responding to their calls.
According to Rosaroso, they were also blocked on the couple’s social media accounts, and that they were unfamiliar with the owner of the junket operations being mentioned by Yexel.
Prior to this, Facebook user Priscilla LaFountain also made a plea to the couple urging them to respond to her calls related to an alleged investment arrangement. Following this, several Facebook posts emerged about the investment arrangement that allegedy fell through.
