BAGUIO CITY—The Department of the Interior and Local Government Cordillera warned local government units (LGUs) and the general public about various groups/organizations posing as accredited by the Department and collecting membership fees.
“The Department has never allowed or granted authority to accredited civil society organizations (CSOs) and other groups to engage in such fraudulent activities,” Araceli San Jose, Regional Director of DILG-CAR, said.
She urged local governments and the general public to be wary of various groups/organizations claiming to be accredited by the Department or declaring that DILG officials are either the founders or members of the fraudulent groups soliciting fees.
“It has come to the DILG’s attention that a number of organizations or groups are charging certain fees from their members, recruits, and the general public while falsely claiming to be accredited by the Department,” she said.
According to reports, members are given identification cards that can be used in transactions with government offices, immunity from checkpoint inspections and apprehensions, and even the authority to not pay taxes or utility bills.
Recently, these organizations are reportedly issuing vaccination cards that they claim can be presented by their members in various accomplishments.
RD San Jose advised the general public to immediately report any encounter with such individuals or their bogus group, as well as any other incidents involving similar schemes, to the authorities. ### (PMTG/DILG-CAR)
