The owner and finance manager of local wellness chain Dermacare have been arrested following coordinated law enforcement action, marking a clear demonstration of regulatory vigilance against unauthorized financial activities in the country. Authorities confirmed the apprehension of Chanda P. Atienza, owner of Beyond Skin Care Ventures Inc. which operates as Dermacare Face Body and Laser Center, and Venus Eunizel P. Gonda, the firm’s administration and finance manager. Both were taken into custody on September 5 upon their return to the Philippines, after being detained by Malaysian authorities earlier this year.
The operation was carried out through the joint efforts of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime-Interpol NCB Manila. The arrests stem from allegations that the pair solicited and offered investments to the general public without the required registration, license, and authority from the SEC—a violation that prompted the agency to file criminal complaints against the company and its officers back in 2024. They also face separate charges of syndicated estafa in connection with the same case.
Investigations show the company allegedly attracted investors with a franchise partnership scheme promising guaranteed quarterly returns equivalent to 12.6 percent interest over five years, plus complimentary salon services. The situation escalated after the two fled to Malaysia, leading the Regional Trial Court of Batangas City, Branch 2, to grant the SEC’s request to cancel their passports in February this year. This legal step supported the issuance of an Interpol red notice, which in turn formed the basis for their detention in Malaysia in August and subsequent repatriation.
The case highlights the SEC’s firm stance and cross-border cooperation in enforcing financial regulations, ensuring that entities offering investment products operate within legal boundaries and that those behind unauthorized and fraudulent schemes face accountability, regardless of attempts to evade jurisdiction.
