PAO warns public of text message scam using Acosta’s name

Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, speaking in a budget hearing at the Senate in this file photo taken in 2019. SENATE PHOTO / FILE

MANILA, Philippines — The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) on Monday warned that there is a text message going around using the chief public attorney’s name to scam the public.

In a statement, the PAO said that Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta’s name is being used in a text scam to dupe people into thinking “that they won money amounting to P400,000 courtesy of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.”

In the same text, the scammers will then ask for the recipient’s name, age, address and job.

“Ipinapaalam po sa publiko na ang ating Punong Manananggol Pambayan ay hindi kailanman nagpadala at magpapadala ng ganitong uri ng mensahe sa kahit kanino,” said PAO.

(We would like to inform the public that our Chief Public Attorney has not sent and will never send this type of message to anyone.)

“Siya po ay pinuno ng isang ahensya ng pamahalaan at nagsisilbi sa taong bayan at hindi para kung kanino,” it added.

(She is the head of a government agency and serves the people and not for anyone.)

PAO warned those behind the scam that if they do not stop, they will be prosecuted.

“Sa mga gumagamit po ng pangalan niya at nagpapanggap na siya, tigilan po ninyo ang ganitong klase ng panloloko dahil mananagot po kayo, una sa Diyos at sa batas kapag kayo ay nahuli. Hindi lahat ng araw ay makapangloloko kayo,” said PAO.

(To those who use her name and pretend to be her, please stop this kind of fraud because you will be held accountable, first to God and the law when you are caught. It’s not everyday that you can fool people.)

“Mayroong batas na uusig sa inyo, sa inyong mga ginagawang kalokohan,” it added.

(There is a law that will prosecute you for all of your misdeeds.)

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JPV