• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Office of the Vice President has issued a warning of a scam by unscrupulous persons or groups using the name of the OVP to solicit money.
A statement posted in the OVP’s and Duterte Facebook pages said it has received reports from Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental, of an individual who had been asking around P50 each from those who want to avail of monetary aid from the Vice President.
“This is a scam,” the post said.
It urged the public to “report activities like this to the police station or any local authorities.”
The statement further said that anyone who wants to know more about the OVP’s programs should inquire through official social media platforms, the OVP Central Office, and satellite offices.
The OVP has satellite offices in Davao, Zamboanga, Cotabato, Tandag, Cebu, Bacolod, Tacloban, Isabela, and Dagupan. There are also two Public Assistance Division (PAD) Extension Offices, in Lipa, Batangas and in Tondo, Manila.
PLt. Col. Reynante Jomocan, Himamaylan City police chief, yesterday said that they are tracking down a female suspect behind th e alleged scam using the Office of the Vice President.
Jomocan disclosed that they have already identified a female suspect who has been going around Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, recruiting people with a P50 registration fee for a livelihood project reportedly under the OVP, as validated by Brgy. Capt. Mildred Titular.
Jomocan further said that they also got hold of a copy of the list of people who have already registered, although they cannot confirm if they have paid the required P50 registration fee.
He advised Titular to inform her constituents that it is “not legitimate and it is a scam.”*
