DILG-Bicol warns public vs scammers

By Connie Destura LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Bicol has warned the public against individuals or organizations soliciting nominations for barangay chairman, local government post or any other position in their respective barangays, a DILG top official said Friday last week. Eloisa Pastor, DILG regional director, in an interview said their office is not endorsing any and all forms of solicitation regarding appointments to government posts. “We already received reports from different provinces with these certain groups soliciting nominations to be appointed as officer in charge (OIC) punong barangay,” Pastor said even as she added that her office is not connected with any of these organizations or group of people. Joseph Philip Lee, president of Liga ng mga Barangay in Albay, posted in his Facebook page, “Help us combat these illicit activities, report unauthorized groups to your local DILG officers.” If it is too good to be true, then it is not true, Pastor added, pertaining to the rumored appointment in the barangay or any government post. Barangay elections will never be by appointment, it is a process and will undergo evaluation, Pastor said. She added that their office is still awaiting further instructions and developments about the 2017 barangay elections. “Do not entertain or fall prey to these scammers. Ignore messages that may ask you to give money,” Pastor further advised the public. During the last RPOC meeting, Pastor turned over for further investigation and case build –up a thick folder to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) containing the names and pictures of the unscrupulous individuals, groups of different organizations from different provinces soliciting and collecting money in exchange for the nominations as OIC Punong Barangay.