Quezon City cops raid fake presidential office

MANILA, Philippines - An organization claiming to be under the Office of the President was raided yesterday in Quezon City.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) served a search warrant and rounded up around 50 members of a group called the Presidential Regional Assistance Monitoring Services or PRAMS at a rented two-story house on Road 1 in Barangay Bagong Pagasa. Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert of the Regional Trial Court Branch 89 issued the warrant.

PRAMS’ officers and members said the organization was formed to help the government implement its programs on “sanitation and taxation.” Exactly how this would be done, they could not answer when asked by The STAR a few minutes after the raid.

Police officers seized laminated identification cards bearing the seal of the Office of the President, a pile of application forms, and tarpaulins bearing the group’s name and the presidential seal.

“As per verification, this organization does not exist. Our record check with the Securities and Exchange Commission states that PRAMS is not duly registered and does not operate under the Office of the President,” QCPD director Chief Superintendent George Regis said.

According to Regis, the group recruits members and collects fees with the promise that the members would eventually hold government positions. He said the group has been committing violations for unauthorized use of the seal of the Office of the President, forgery, counterfeiting of the seal of the government, use of forged signature or counterfeit stamp and illegal use of uniforms and insignia.

“It does not even have a business permit to operate,” Regis said.

QCPD deputy director for operations Senior Superintendent Ranier Idio said members have been promised to receive salaries ranging from P30,000 to P35,000, but the group’s executive director, Marcelino Castro, reportedly promised “the salaries would come only when the supposed funding of P3 billion arrives.” Castro was not present when the police arrived.

Group cites Marcos EOs

One of those taken in, assistant executive director Wilbert Tamayo, claimed the group is backed by executive orders issued by former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1985, but admitted that they have not been issued funding by the government.

“We have written to President Aquino, asking for an audience with him,” Tamayo said.

When asked about the group’s projects, Tamayo said the organization was formed to help the government in its programs on sanitation and taxation “in coordination with” the local government units.

QCPD Station 2 commander Superintendent Audie Madrideo has a different take on the contested orders (E0s 820-2 and 820-A). “As early as 1985, there has been a memorandum circular from Executive Assistant Juan Navera stating the nonexistence of PRAMS,” Madrideo told The STAR.

The group was first busted in 2006 when its then executive, Maximino Gamido, was reportedly charged for similar offenses. “But the group has reactivated, with members paying dues and membership fees, when in fact the organization is not duly registered,” Regis said.

Village councilman Ricky Bajaris told The STAR that the group, which has occupied the house since June, has not secured clearance from the barangay council.