BAGUIO CITY August 17 – The Department of the Interior and Local government (DILG) recently warned local officials and employees not to deal with enterprising individuals who misrepresent themselves as close aides of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Mike Sueno and collect from them monetary considerations in exchange for the immediate granting of their pending requests with the agency, among other things.
In an advisory to all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, DILG regional directors and other concerned officials and employees, Josephine C. Leysa, DILG Head Executive Assistant, informed local officials that there are some enterprising individuals who misrepresent themselves as officials or employees or otherwise connected with the agency through short messages, email communications, letters, verbal or in any other form and name dropping any DILG officials to solicit favors in the form of money and other considerations.
“All concerned are hereby advised to report to the Philippine National Police or appropriate authority any related or similar incidents,” Leysa said.
It was learned that said individuals had been approaching several local chief executives in different parts of the archipelago and informing them of their influence to facilitate the immediate release of funds for projects or granting of their pending requests for fire trucks and police cars, in exchange for a certain amount of money.
These individuals disappear after receiving money from those who believe in their modus operandi.
Leysa advised local officials, particularly the newly elected ones, not to entertain such individuals but to directly transact business with the municipal, provincial, city, regional and national offices of the agency to avoid being victimized.
According to her, concerned DILG officials who are in charge of the release of funds and units of equipment being distributed to local governments are prohibited from collecting any monetary consideration in exchange for the speedy processing of requests.
She underscored that it is the duty of officials and employees of the agency to work out the release of the requests of concerned local officials without any consideration. The DILG has not authorized any individual to transact with local officials regarding the processing of their requests.** By Dexter A. See
