MANILA, Philippines — Two Filipino businessmen facing fraud and money laundering charges in the United States are seeking assistance from the Philippine government as they contest the accusations against them.

Lawyer Oliver Baclay Jr., counsel for Innocentrix President and CEO Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, has urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), particularly its Los Angeles consulate, to intervene in the case and provide consular assistance to Sordilla and co-accused Bryan Navales Tarosa.

“We are appealing to the DFA, in particular to the consulate in Los Angeles which has jurisdiction over San Diego, to look into their case. Kahit lang po visit sa kanilang detention facillity, and makausap lang din nila si Michael at Bryan. Things can start from there,” Baclay said in a statement.

Sordilla and Tarosa were arrested on December 9, 2024, in San Diego over allegations that they defrauded elderly authors of nearly $44 million, or around P2.5 billion. 

The two are facing charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud — each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine — as well as conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, which carries the same maximum prison term and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the laundered amount.

Baclay claimed the two were detained without being informed of their rights under US law.

“Michael and Bryan were detained in the absence of US constitutional guarantees, they were detained without observing their Miranda rights, they were detained without informing them what is the nature of the accusations against them,” he said.

The lawyer denied that Sordilla and Tarosa were involved in the alleged scam, which reportedly targeted hundreds of elderly authors in the United States through a fraudulent book publishing scheme.

Baclay admitted that three former sales agents of Innocentrix may have been involved but emphasized that the illegal acts were not authorized by the company or its executives.

“We categorically deny any criminal liability. Those unlawful acts were made by former agents of Innocentrix. Innocentrix has strong and established company guidelines for its agents not to commit misrepresentation,” he said.

Baclay noted that the three agents had been dismissed prior to the arrests and that Innocentrix is looking into pursuing criminal cases against them. He also questioned the figures presented by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), claiming only $2 million — not $44 million — was involved, and that there were only nine complainants, not 800.

“When we reviewed the transaction value, it does not amount to $44 million. Only $2 million is involved in the transactions,” he said.

Baclay further said that Innocentrix has already refunded most of the clients affected by the former agents’ actions, including one who received a full refund of $140,000.

“The act of refunding shows that there’s no criminal intent, no fraudulent intent whatsoever,” he said. “Ang scammer, hindi nag rerefund… It makes no sense to commit a scam if in the end the company will just return the money.”

He called on the Philippine government and the DFA to support Sordilla and Tarosa, saying both are “responsible members of society.”

“Nais po namin ipaabot to our government, to our President, to the DFA, na meron po tayong mga kababayan na nangangailangan ng tulong,” Baclay said. “Michael is a very responsible member of society. He has generously helped a lot of people, especially in Cebu City.”

He warned that inaction from the DFA could set a dangerous precedent.

“If this happens to other of our kababayan, na bigla na lang ide-detain without proper safeguards, without proper observation of constitutional safeguards, that could become a dangerous precedent,” he said.

As of posting, the DFA has not issued a statement on the matter.