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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Public warned about scammers pretending to be DBM officials

Public warned about scammers pretending to be DBM officials

Published Apr 12, 2024 06:21 am

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman warned against individuals posing as their officials who ask for money in exchange of project contract.

In a statement, Pangandaman said that the public must remain wary when approached by persons who claim to be affiliated with DBM.

“These impostors shamelessly exploit public trust, falsely representing themselves as DBM officials,” Pangandaman said. “Their actions not only tarnish our institution’s integrity but also harm unsuspecting individuals.”

The DBM chief also encouraged the public to report any suspicious activities promptly to the authorities.

“We will not tolerate such egregious deception,” she said.

“I urge the public to remain vigilant and report any encounters with these impostors immediately,” she further said.

This comes after a recent operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which led to the apprehension of eight individuals posing as DBM officials.

NBI said in a report that the individuals were allegedly trying to swindle P1.3 billion worth of government projects from the contractor of the infrastructure project, wherein one individual even claimed to be the DBM undersecretary.

However, upon conducting an initial verification at the DBM, the complainant did not find any record of the alleged officer or project in the agency's official records.

The individuals were arrested on March 26, during an entrapment operation in Mandaluyong City after the suspects accepted marked money amounting to P500,000 from the NBI.

During a recent interview, Jerome Bomediano, chief of the NBI anti-organized and transnational crime division, said that the apprehended individuals will be charged with estafa under Revised Penal Code 135 and the Usurpation of Authority under Revised Penal Code 177.

Bomediano urged the public to promptly report any encounters with individuals or groups falsely claiming high positions within the government.

Reports or complaints can be reported to the agency’s public assistance office email address: [email protected], the hotline 8657-3300 local 2521, or through the Usapang Budget Natin's Facebook page.

Individuals can also report their concerns to the NBI through their trunkline at (02) 8523-8231 to 38.

Related Tags

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
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