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MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday urged the public to report malicious and illegal recruitment activities or transactions following the apprehension of an individual allegedly extorting money from applicants.
In a statement, the PCG said authorities arrested a certain Princess Sandra Macapeges in Parañaque City on October 10 for extorting money from aspiring PCG applicants in exchange for their inclusion in the final list for the Coast Guard training.
PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu said they do not tolerate such actions, which do not align with the organization’s core values.
“The public plays an active role in preventing such crime and is part of the solution to instill discipline among the PCG workforce, uphold integrity, and maintain public trust,” Abu said.
Additionally, PCG encouraged the public to report irregularities involving Coast Guard employees that may misrepresent the organization.
The agency likewise reminded everyone that all communications and reports are marked as confidential.
The PCG also warned the public to exercise caution and report only legitimate complaints or concerns. Pranks or hoax messages will not be tolerated and shall be investigated. —Kristelle Anne Razon, INQUIRER.net trainee