The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) warned its personnel, contractors, suppliers and other clients with legitimate business transactions in the department never to fall prey to unscrupulous groups using the names of its officials to solicit funds supposedly for worthy projects or any unknown purposes. This warning came about as reports continue to pile up that unscrupulous groups pry on the unsuspecting DPWH officials and personnel to ask for financial assistance for their personal needs or other various reasons, which the department asserted were unlawful and unauthorized. Reports also disclosed that certain communications for DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan were coursed through email addresses [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]), [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) and [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). “Let it be known that Secretary Bonoan has neither used nor has access to any of the email addresses mentioned above, and all transactions sent thru such will not be recognized by the Office of the Secretary, the DPWH warned. The DPWH reminded the public that “for official communication purposes, the only legitimate email address used by the DPWH Secretary is [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).’’ In view of these fraudulent occurrences, DPWH Undersecretary for Information Management and Technical Service Maximo Carvajal issued a statement stating that he has “neither solicited nor authorized any solicitations in any form and any purpose, and shall in no way do or cause the doing of the same.’’ He made the pronouncement after receiving information that unscrupulous persons ‘using my name and/or posing as my staff’ solicited money for various reasons.’ In another instance, DPWH Region 7 Director Ernesto Gregorio Jr. made a similar call cationing the public against ‘fake solicitation.’ He issued the clarification after certain unscrupulous personnel were soliciting money or any favor using and acting as staff of the DPWH Regional 7 Office. “Let it be known that the undersigned (Gregorio) has neither solicited nor authorized any solicitations in any form and for any purpose, and shall in no way do or cause the doing of the same,’’ Gregorio noted in a statement. “All offices and private individuals are enjoined to refrain from entertaining any kind of solicitation, allegedly for and, in behalf, of Regional Director Ernesto S. Gregorio Jr., are unauthorized, unlawful and should be disregarded,’’ the statement added. The fraudulent acts of the unscrupulous groups went a step further when a person claiming to be DPWH Undersecretary Ardeliza Medenilla called a supplier of goods to solicit money. Known to be a person of high integrity, the DPWH said “Undersecretary Medenilla adheres to the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act 6713) which prohibits officials and employees from soliciting money and will not resort to any unauthorized government transactions.’’ There was also a case when an individual called up the DPWH offices particularly in Mindanao using the name of DPWH-Stakeholders Relations Service (SES) Director Randy del Rosario to obtain vital personal contact details of the DPWH regional and central office officials. Del Rosario appealed to the concerned parties to assist the SRS in its bid to take action against the unscrupulous persons through the DPWH Central Office numbers 5304-3280 and 5304-3370. The caution was issued to clear del Rosario’s name and “prevent any fraud and avoid furthering deceitful schemes.’’ The DPWH had reiterated its warning after getting information that cash deposits have been made by at least one supplier to the bank accounts of two unscrupulous individuals in response to a scam in the form of solicitation of people posing as DPWH officials. “RA (Republic Act) 1405 otherwise known as “The Bank Secrecy Law’’ precludes the department from getting from the depository banks information about the account holders to conduct further investigation into this scam. In this regard, the Department is appealing to these account holders or people who know them or know the people who opened these accounts to report to the DPWH any information that can help us investigate this scam,’’ the DPWH stated.