DBM warns on posers

Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman warned against individuals posing as their officials who ask for money in exchange for project contracts.

In a statement, Pangandaman said that the public must remain wary when approached by persons who claim to be affiliated with the DBM.

“These impostors shamelessly exploit public trust, falsely representing themselves as DBM officials,” Pangandaman said. “Their actions not only tarnish our institution’s integrity but also harm unsuspecting individuals.”

The DBM chief encouraged the public to report any suspicious activities promptly to authorities.

“We will not tolerate such egregious deception,” she said. “I urge the public to remain vigilant and report any encounters with these impostors immediately.”

Her warning came after a recent entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in which eight individuals posing as DBM officials were caught.

The NBI said in a report that the individuals were allegedly trying to swindle ₱1.3-billion worth of government projects from the contractor of the infrastructure project. One of the suspects even claimed to be a DBM Undersecretary.

However, upon conducting initial verification at the DBM, the complainant did not find any record of the alleged official or project in the agency’s official records.

The suspects were arrested on March 26 in Mandaluyong City after accepting the ₱500,000 marked money from the NBI.

Jerome Bomediano, chief of the NBI Anti-organized and Transnational Crime Division, said that the suspects will be charged with estafa and usurpation of authority under the Revised Penal Code.

Bomediano urged the public to promptly report any encounters with individuals or groups falsely claiming high positions within the government.

Reports or complaints can be reported to the DBM public assistance office email address public_assistance@dbm.gov.ph, hotline 8657-3300 local 2521, or through the Usapang Budget Natin’s Facebook page.

Individuals can also report their concerns to the NBI through their trunkline at (02) 8523-8231 to 38.