The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned local government units (LGUs) about scammers posing as senior DILG officials to solicit favors or extort money from them.
In a statement, the DILG that the impostors have been calling mayors in Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Iloilo, Leyte, and Cotabato offering government assistance.
The scammers promised to help clear up any on-going investigation against them but asked for funds at the end.
A mayor was told that the DILG will donate 2,800 cavans of rice to his constituents only to ask P20,000 via remittance purposely for transportation costs.
An infuriated DILG Secretary Eduardo Año urged the public to “immediately report any DILG officials impostors or not who are soliciting or promoting anything and or using my name to gain any favor to include any business, money generating scheme to any nearest PNP stations, DILG municipal and provincial offices, and or DILG websites and action centers.’’
“We will take immediate actions to apprehend these scrupulous persons and file appropriate cases,’’ Año warned.
The DILG had issued a public advisory about this scam last July.
Stressing that all forms of corruption have no place in the government, Año said that 89 barangay captains have been issued preventive suspensions by the Office of the Ombudsman.
He said that the suspension orders will be carried out and served by the LGUs once all documentations are completed.
The DILG chief said the LGUs have 15 days to serve the suspension order upon their receipt of the notice citing that the resolution is “mandatory.''