By Azer Parrocha/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) on Thursday warned the public against persons using the office in “fraudulent schemes” to solicit funds.
“Notice is hereby given to the public that unscrupulous individuals have been using the Office of the Executive Secretary or name-dropping the latter in fraudulent schemes to solicit funds from the public,” the OES said in a statement.
“In particular, please be warned that the Office of the President or the OES has not authorized any person to solicit money or other things of value from the public in exchange for a position in government,” it added.
Last year, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo also warned the public against the rise of online scams involving his name where money has been deposited to accounts in the name of other people.
This prompted Panelo to deactivate all his social media accounts.
Last February, the National Bureau of Investigation arrested Jose A. Villafuerte, a man in Mandaue City, Cebu who fooled victims by pretending to be Panelo.
Villafuerte, a native of Bulacan, reportedly solicited “donations” from his victims by pretending to be Panelo on Facebook.
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