Less than a month after its warning, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) raises alarm again over scammers soliciting money for Marawi evacuees.
This time, DILG Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Catalino S. Cuy sternly warns that suspects will be dealt with accordingly.
“It’s only a matter of time for you to be exposed. Our police information technology (IT) experts are now working, even as I speak,” he warns perpetrators.
He says that DILG continues to receive reports from some of its regional offices and from local government officials saying they are getting suspicious calls and text messages from individuals posing either as the DILG OIC or his staff asking for cash ‘donations’ to be sent supposedly for Marawi crisis victims.
“The hands of the law will reach fraudsters who are shamelessly using the name of poor Marawi evacuees to get money from unsuspecting victims,” he says.
The DILG OIC prods local chief executives to take part in the investigation by helping confirm the identity of suspects.
“Help yourself from being a victim of extortionists and be part of the solution. Itong mga swindler na ito ay walang matatakbuhan kung tayong lahat ay gumawa ng kaukulang aksyon. Huwag tayong padadala sa kanilang mga panlilinlang,” he points out.
“It should raise a red flag when the con artists begin to ask for ‘your donation’ to be sent through a money remittance center or even bank account. Hindi naman ganyan ang tamang prosesong pagtanggap ng tulong, eh,” he adds.
Victims are urged to contact nearest local DILG offices or Philippine National Police (PNP) Camp Crame at (02) 7228116 and thru PNP trunk line (02) 7230401 local 3421 or 3381.
To be sure, local government officials and DILG regional and field officials are also told to checkdilg.gov.ph for advisories on the modus operandi being utilized by scammers.
Posing as ‘DILG Regional Director’
Meanwhile, another modus operandi is revealed by DILG Region 6 which reported that its provincial office in Capiz got a call on Monday from a person posing to be DILG Region 1 Director. The poseur then said he is requesting for a caterer to provide meals for his entourage as he visits Capiz.
However, the DILG Region 6 Assistant Regional Director (ARD) was able to confirm through the DILG Region 1 ARD that there is no impending visit for the Region 1 Director to the province of Capiz.
The pretender, upon being told that he has been exposed, threatened the DILG Region 6 ARD but eventually ceased to call or send text message.
The case has already been referred to the PNP to track down the culprit.—DILG-PACS
