Pacquiao warns scammers using his name: Turn yourselves in or else…

Sen. Manny Pacquiao. (Contributed photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Thursday warned persons who are using his name in runnning a scam to turn themselves in or else he will be forced to offer a cash reward for their arrest.

Pacquiao said he learned that certain persons are using his name to swindle the poor, many of them are his loyal supporters. These scammers allegedly sell ID cards which buyers can supposedly use in exchange for cash and groceries to be given by the presidential candidate during his campaign rally in Candaba, Pampanga.

“Ipahuhuli ko ang mga gumagawa nito.  Kapag hindi kayo lumantad diyan, mapipilitan akong magbigay ng reward para lamang madampot kayo,” Pacquiao said.

(I will have these persons arrested. If you don’t turn yourself in, I will be forced to give out a cash award for your arrest.)

According to a press release, when Pacquiao and his team visited Candaba, his supporter Juliet Mangilid showed ID cards of dozens of barangay folks who were hoodwinked into paying P250 for each ID card.

She said one of their companions, Rosalia Marte, died when she fell in a creek while trying to recruit “members” to join the organization of Pacquiao supporters.

The case has been referred to the Candaba police while Pacquiao’s group asked the public and the news media to help them warn the public against the scammers.

Pacquiao lamented that the scammers have targeted the poor as their victims when they are already struggling.

“Alam ninyo halang ang kaluluwa ng mga ito eh.  Kung iisipin natin ang mga binibiktima ninyo isang kahig isang tuka – ang mga mahihirap,” he said.

(These people are really evil. You are victimizing the poor.)

He said the incident made him realize that there are people who are capable of doing immoral acts against the poor.

“Hindi ko akalain na may mga ganyang mga tao.  Manloloko ka ng tao para mapakain ang pamilya mo.  Kaya tuloy ang mga anak nagiging masama rin dahil ang mga pinakakain mo ay galing sa masama,” Pacquiao said.

(I can’t believe that there are such people. They will hoodwink people for money that they would use to feed their families. This is why their children also grow up committing wrongdoings because they were brought up like that.)

/MUF