• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona yesterday warned the public against people using his name to solicit cash donations.
In a press briefing, Azcona claimed that the ‘scam’ crops up when there is a ‘hot issue’ against the SRA, recalling that it happened last year, which had victimized his friend.
Rosemarie Lovino, a utility worker of SRA, reported to the Police Station 8 that on December 2 she received a call from their supplier, Triple B catering, that somebody called them up speaking in Tagalog, introducing himself as SRA administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, asking for cash donations.
Freilan Bantad also reported to the police that on November 26, a person using cell phone number 0962-878-2332 called one of their suppliers, also using the name of Azcona, asking for cash donations.
Azcona said that the SRA never engages in solicitation, as they have allocated budget for their programs, such as disaster response.
If they are able to identify those behind the scams, Azcona said they will not hesitate to take legal action.
In compliance with the order of Malacañang for government offices to scale down their Christmas activities, Azcona said the SRA was able to save about P700,000, which will be distributed to sugar farmers affected by natural calamities, such as the Kanlaon phreatic and ash emissions in Negros, and typhoon stricken areas in Batangas, and Tuguegarao in Cagayan.*
