PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. Screenshot from Facebook / PNP livestream
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief PGen. Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday warned the public against scammers who drop the names of politicians to dupe their victims.
“Nais kong paalalahanan ang publiko na maging mapanuri at huwag basta-basta magtiwala sa mga taong gumagamit ng pangalan ng mga personalidad, kabilang ang mga pulitiko, upang humingi ng anumang pabor o salapi,” Eleazar said in a statement Sunday.
(I want to remind the public to be critical and not to easily trust people who use the names of personalities, including politicians, to solicit any favors or money.)
“I have tasked concerned police units to keep an eye out for this modus to prevent unscrupulous individuals from cheating our kababayan of their hard-earned money,” he added.
Eleazar issued the warning after five people were arrested in Camarin, Caloocan City on Friday for allegedly selling daily time records for P30 each to residents they claimed would receive cash from presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao.
The PNP said that the suspects claimed to be members of Pacquiao’s staff and were ordered to recruit cleaners who would be paid P7,500 each. Pacquiao, however, denied any involvement in the said scheme.
Meanwhile, Eleazar said that aside from Pacquiao, there were also other political personalities whose names were dropped in other scams.
“Kadalasan na modus ng mga scammer ay ang pagbanggit ng pangalan ng mga personalidad para makuha ang tiwala ng biktima, ang pangakong napakalaking balik sa kakaunting investment, o ang instant kita ng walang kahirap-hirap,” said Eleazar.
(Often scammers’ modus operandi is to mention the name of personalities to gain the victim’s trust, the promise of massive returns on minimal investment.)
The PNP chief then urged the public to immediately report to authorities once they fall victim to these scams.
“Hinihikayat ko ang publiko na huwag mag-atubiling dumulog sa pulisya at maghain ng reklamo kung nabiktima kayo ng ganitong scam. Sinisiguro ko sa inyo na papanagutin natin ang mga nasa likod nito,” Eleazar said.
(I encourage the public not to hesitate to approach the police and file a complaint if you have been a victim of such a scam. I assure you that we will hold those behind it accountable.)
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