MANILA — The Department of Justice warned the public anew against unscrupulous individuals using the name of Cabinet members, including Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, in unauthorized solicitation.
In his “extremely urgent” Memorandum Circular No. 65 dated November 24, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ordered the heads of the agency’s attached offices and bureaus to disseminate the warning.
Aguirre issued the memorandum after the Office of the President (OP) sought help in informing the public against such schemes.
“There are unscrupulous individuals posing as members of the Cabinet, including the Executive Secretary, or name-dropping the latter in fraudulent schemes to solicit funds from the public,” Aguirre said in his memorandum.
“The public is also warned that the OP and the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) have not authorized any person to solicit money or other things of value from the public for the alleged benefit of Marawi soldiers, senior citizens, illegal drug campaign, or any other cause for that matter,” he added.
Earlier, Aguirre also warned the public against groups or individuals using his name to make solicitations.
“Anyone who will be the subject of such unauthorized solicitation should immediately report to my office at the Office of the Secretary,” the Justice Secretary said in a statement.
Aguirre said that he holds outreach programs for some chosen beneficiaries, particularly in his hometown in Mulanay or my province in Quezon.
“The costs of such programs are personally borne by me and my family with the help of some well meaning friends who directly offer to me their assistance or contributions,” he said in statement.
“I have not authorized any representative or intermediary to solicit on my behalf for whatever project or activity,” he added.
Aguirre urged the public to report these activities to his office at DOJ for appropriate and immediate action at landline number 02-526-2618.
Solicitation involving public official and employees is prohibited under Presidential Decree 46 and a corresponding action will be imposed who will be found committing such violation.
Prohibited by law is the act of receiving any gift “from a person other than a member of the public officer’s immediate family… even on the occasion of a family celebration or national festivity like Christmas, if the value of the gift is under the circumstances manifestly excessive.”
Penalties may range from one to five years in prison, perpetual disqualification from public office, and other accessory penalties. (PNA)
