The Department of the Interior and Local Government-Cordillera Administrative (DILG-CAR) warned the public and local government units (LGUs) on Monday, March 14 against groups posing as accredited organizations by the department to collect fees.
"The department has never allowed or granted authority to accredited civil society organizations (CSOs) and other groups to engage in such fraudulent activities," DILG-CAR Regional Director Araceli San Jose said.
With this report, San Jose urged the LGUs and the public to be wary of spurious organizations claiming to be DILG accredited or declaring that certain DILG officials are either the founders or members of the fraudulent groups soliciting fees.
“It has come to the DILG’s attention that a number of organizations or groups are charging certain fees from their members, recruits, and the general public while falsely claiming to be accredited by the department,’’ she added.
The DILG-CAR said that reports noted that members of the fraudulent groups are given identification cards (IDs) that can be used in government transactions, immunity from checkpoint inspections and apprehensions and even the authority to not pay taxes or utility bills.
Recently, these organizations are reportedly issuing vaccination cards that they claim can be presented by their members in various accomplishments.
San Jose advised the public to immediately report any encounter with such individuals or their bogus group, as well as any other incidents involving similar schemes, to the authorities. (Chito A. Chavez)