Malacañang warns public vs fake DITO group using Palace exec's name

Malacañang on Wednesday cautioned against fake groups posing as part of the DITO Telecommunity and collecting cash using a Palace official's name.

In a statement, the Palace said a citizen sent a complaint to the Office of the President indicating that some groups and individuals used the name of  Presidential Adviser on Streamlining of Government Processes Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr. to collect P500,000.

The amount, the citizen added, was allegedly a fee to grant unwitting persons the supposed right-of-way indemnity payment of up to P25 million for building DITO Telecom towers within residential areas.

"The fraudulent individuals who go by the names of David Shaun Garcia, Alex Dumay, and Alimoden Sangcopan, are affiliated with Geo Dumay SAQ & Permitting Team -- a joint venture between Dumay Builders and Geo-Tech Document Facilitation Services. The group are the supposed accredited contractors of DITO Telecom, and were appointed by Secretary Evasco to collect the said fee," read the statement.

In the same statement, Evasco said he is not connected with the afformentioned groups and individuals.

If a person encountered the scam, the Palace urged them to report it to the  Presidential Complaint Center through 8736-8645 or pcc@malacanang.gov.ph.

They can also raise the matter to the Anti-Fraud Division of the National Bureau of Investigation, which can be reached through 8525-4093 or afad@nbi.gov.ph.

"The national government is not involved in any type of business activities and negotiations with the agents and representatives of the said telecommunications company," Palace underscored.