DILG warns public, local executives of scammers

October 28, 2020

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday again warned the public and local government executives of a syndicate of extortionists and con-men posing as DILG senior officials and arranging for COVID-19 or emergency relief aid.

DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said they received numerous reports from DILG regional and field offices and some LGUs that they have received calls or texts from con-artists and impostors pretending to be senior DILG officials, himself or his staff, offering to provide COVID-19 assistance and asking for money in return.

“We are advising our LGU and the public to be careful of this syndicate who posed as someone from the DILG and extorting money in exchange of aid,” Malaya said.

Malaya said Tuburan, Cebu Mayor Danilo Diamante reported to DILG that he got calls from someone who introduced himself as a DILG undersecretary asking money supposedly to cover for shipping of 1,500 cavans of rice to be given as assistance to his town.

“The caller also supposedly instructed Mayor Diamante to pin a certain SB  member for alleged involvement in illegal drugs which the latter vehemently denied,” he added.

Malaya said he also received similar reports from DILG Calabarzon Regional Director Ariel Iglesia, Mayor Rachel Ubana of Lopez, Quezon, Mayor Nacional Mercado of Maasin City, Southern Leyte; and Mayor Melina Requinto of Estancia, Iloilo.

“The style of this syndicate is the same. They will call and introduce themselves as someone from DILG, they will pretend to give rice or other support for COVID-19 response and in the end will ask for money for transportation expenses,” he said.

Malaya said DILG alerted the Philippine National Police – Crime Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) about this modus operandi and they are working double time to put these scammers behind bars.

The DILG had earlier warned local government units and public of similar extortion incidents last month.

Malaya said the DILG routes official communications to the DILG regional and field offices and all LGUs via official channels and not through texts or calls.

He advised the LGUs to be cautious and verify from DILG field offices when dealing with any person claiming to be connected with the department. Ella Dionisio/DMS