Actress and entrepreneur Rufa Mae Quinto voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday, following the issuance of an arrest warrant by a Pasay court.
Quinto arrived in the Philippines on a Philippine Airlines flight from San Francisco, California, alongside her family. Her flight landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 early in the morning.
The actress underwent a medico-legal examination before being brought to the Pasay court. She faces charges related to Dermacare, a company also linked to the arrest of fellow actress and entrepreneur Neri Naig.
According to Quinto’s lawyer, Mary Louise Reyes, her client is accused of 14 counts of violating Section 8 of the Securities Regulation Code, which prohibits the sale of unregistered securities such as shares and investments in the Philippines without approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, Reyes clarified that Quinto is not facing charges of large-scale estafa.
“She will face those charges… mag-voluntary surrender siya and magpo-post po kami ng bail for that. She’s worried kasi hindi naman totoo iyung allegations kasi my client po is just a brand ambassador, a model-endorser,” Reyes said.
“Ni hindi sa kanya nakapagbayad ng downpayment, tapos iyung mga tseke po puro tumalbog. Lahat po iyan hawak po namin iyung ebidensya, ipe-present namin sa court,” the lawyer explained.
In September 2023, the SEC issued an advisory warning that Dermacare-Beyond Skin Care Solutions was unauthorized to solicit investments, as it was not registered and lacked a license to sell securities. The advisory also mentioned that individuals connected to the company, including salespeople, agents, influencers, and endorsers, could face legal action.
Quinto has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that she has no connection to any fraudulent activity. “I categorically deny these baseless accusations. If anything, I am also a victim and I am determined to seek justice.”
“It is dejecting to see my name being dragged through the mud, but I remain steadfast and confident that the truth will soon prevail,” she said in a statement.