After Neri Naig, Rufa Mae Quinto also faces arrest amid Dermacare scam

Aside from Neri Naig, fellow actress Rufa Mae Quinto is also facing a standing warrant of arrest for similar charges of violation of a provision of the Securities Regulation Code in connection with a skincare company flagged by the Securities and Exchanged Commission.

Quinto’s lawyer Atty Mary Louise Reyes confirmed the issuance of a court warrant on the December 2 broadcast of 24 Oras, days after complainants’ lawyer Roberto Labe disclosed in a TV interview that there was another actress who they did not name, but have charged for violation of Section 8 (unlawful sale of securities) of Republic Act 8799 (securities code).

Section 8 of the Securities Regulation Code states that an individual is prohibited from engaging as a broker, salesman, or any associated person of any dealer when it comes to buying or selling securities unless it’s registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Dermacare is registered with SEC but its alleged incorporators, one of them identified as Chanda Atienza, its chief operations officer. Naig previously declared on Facebook in 2023 that she is no longer connected with the skincare brand, for which she is now incarcerated while her twin cases are being heard by two branches of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court.

The unnamed actress, along with politicians and other personalities, was then identified to be the “Booba” star by showbiz insider Ogie Diaz last November 30, citing an anonymous source. Her warrant was then reported by talk show host Boy Abunda on the December 2 episode of his talk show.

Despite the warrant, Quinto’s lawyer clarified that she’s not involved in a large-scale estafa complaint, a non-bailable offense, and will face her impending charges.

“Mag-voluntary surrender siya and magpo-post po kami ng bail for that. She’s worried kasi hindi naman totoo ’yung allegations… kasi my client po is just a brand ambassador, a model-endorser (She will voluntarily surrender and we’ll post bail for that. She’s worried because the allegations are not true. My client is just a brand ambassador, a model-endorser),” she told 24 Oras.

Reyes also pointed out that Quinto is merely a “victim” of the matter, and is not involved in any activities related to scamming clients and the like.

“Kung tutuusin, isa din siya sa mga biktima nito. Hindi siya ’yung biktima ng pang-i-scam. Na hindi sa kanya nakapagbayad ng downpayment, tapos ’yung mga tseke po puro tumalbog. Lahat po ’yan hawak naman po namin ’yung ebidensya, ipe-present naming sa court,” she said.

(To point out, she’s just one of the victims. She’s not the victim of scamming. She hasn’t even received a downpayment, and she only had bounced checks. We all have these as evidence. We’ll present this in court.)

It remains unknown if Quinto will file a case against the skincare company, per report.

Meanwhile, Naig underwent medical evaluation at a hospital, per order by a Pasay City RTC which is handling one of her criminal cases. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, which has custody over Naig said that she is scheduled from release from the hospital and will be back to her detention cell by Friday.