DAVAO CITY (June 29) — After receiving reports that some groups and individuals use her name for money-making activities, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio says she will not hesitate to file charges against them.
Duterte-Carpio issued the warning after City Hall received reports that some groups are using her name to solicit money as membership fees, and fees for identification cards for groups that are supposedly tied with her and the local government.
Last Monday, the City Information Office released the names of the groups identified by the city’s anti-scam unit namely: Mindanao Grassroots People’s Coalition, Caesar City Corporation, Mindanao Bunkers Monetary Council, Mindanao Indigenous Sovereign People for CCC, Mindanao Golden Mind Filipino, Mindanao Filipino Religious Sectors, and the Mindanao Filipino Youth Leaders for CCC.
In Surigao areas, a group claiming to be Duterte’s supporter collects P150 for membership and another P50 for their ID. The group usually approach village leaders who do not have access to validate their legitimacy.
Most of the people who were invited are die-hard supporters of President Duterte.
On Tuesday Duterte-Carpio revealed, “We refer this information to the anti-scam unit so that they can check if these reports really exist.”
Should complainants surface in her office, she will automatically file estafa charges to the groups involved.
Duterte-Carpio also urged people who have been duped by this scheme to lodge their complaint, saying her office will help in the filing of cases.
The mayor maintained she did not allow any group to collect money in exchange for them to be included in the social service programs of the government.
The Davao City Anti-Scam Unit has already conducted a preliminary background check on these groups and uncovered a possible pyramiding scam, officials said.
The unit has already endorsed this matter to the National Bureau of Investigation for appropriate and urgent action. With report from Armando Fenequito Jr/PNA
