Public warned vs con men posing as DILG employees

MANILA, Philippines - Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno yesterday warned all local government units and the public against con men who pose as his staff and extort money.

Sueno said they received a report that certain individuals approached two mayors and asked for P50,000 as down payment for the purchase of fire trucks for their districts.

Sueno said a suspended mayor also claimed to have shelled out P300,000 to an individual who introduced himself as someone close to him.

The suspended mayor added that the suspect claimed that P100,000 will be used for a party for Sueno while the remaining P200,000 will be the down payment for a new car that the interior chief would like to buy.

Sueno added that there was also a report from the Philippine National Police in Western Visayas that some con men approached operators of illegal gambling and presented themselves as the new handlers of such activities in the area.

“Those con men extorted P1 million and another P300,000 from the supposed  operators,” he said.

He said he was disappointed that there were individuals who wish to destroy the reforms that the Duterte administration is starting to implement.

He urged the public to contact the Department of the Interior and Local Government public assistance and complaints center at telephone number (02) 925-0343 or the PACC website at http://www.dilg.gov.ph/public-assistance-center/ to report such illegal activities.