DILG warns public vs. scammers offering bogus barangay OIC appointments

The Department of Interior and Local Government on Tuesday reminded the public to be on the look out for scammers and extortionists who are offering bogus officer-in-charge appointments in barangays.

DILG assistant secretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said these individuals are using the name of the President, DILG and the federalism campaign in their modus operandi.

The DILG, according to Malaya, is still receiving reports regarding scammers who are giving false hopes of OIC appointments in barangays despite the fact that the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will proceed as scheduled on May 14.

"The Senate has shut the door to any postponement, so our Barangay officials should worry about reelection in May rather than allowing themselves to be victimized by these unscrupulous individuals," Malaya said in a press release.

The Philippine National Police has been directed by DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo Año to immediately file charges against the scammers.

Two alleged scammers in Laguna and in Bohol were arrested this month for extortion in the guise of the federalism campaign. One of them even posed as a half-brother of President Rodrigo Duterte and said that he has the authority to appoint OICs in the barangay.

"Kami'y natutuwa na nadakip na ng ating kapulisan ang itinuturong ulo ng grupong People’s Congress na napabalitang ilang buwan na ring nag-iikot sa iba’t ibang probinsya at nambibiktima ng mga kababayan nating napapaniwala nilang maitatalaga silang barangay o local government official kapag naipagpaliban ang Barangay election o natupad ang federalism sa bansa o di kaya sa ilalalim ng revolutionary government," Malaya said. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/KBK, GMA News