The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended filing criminal charges against Opsytech Corp., its president Carl F. Chao, and agents Jeffrey Lopez Perez and Brent Bendaña for allegedly illegally soliciting investments from the public, following a complaint filed by the SEC. In a DOJ resolution dated 21 November 2025, prosecutors found prima facie evidence to charge Opsytech and Chao for alleged violations of Sections 8, 26.3 and 28 of the Securities Regulation Code, in relation to Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, while Perez and Bendaña were implicated for alleged violations of Sections 26.3 and 28 in relation to the same cybercrime provision. The case arose from reports that Opsytech offered a “business loan agreement” to fund capital expenditure, promising monthly returns of 2% to 9% on a minimum investment of PHP 100,000 with a one-year lock-in and postdated checks; 16 complainants said they invested about PHP 14.95 million and received payouts for a few months before checks bounced or were dishonored. The DOJ held the agreement was an investment contract, upheld the SEC’s claim that Opsytech lacked the required authority or registration to sell or offer securities, and cited alleged misrepresentations and concerted actions supporting conspiracy.

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