Man nabbed for seeking cash aid from DSWD with fake documents

Authorities have apprehended a man who allegedly used fraudulent documents to repeatedly avail of cash assistance from the programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

DSWD Assistant Secretary for Special Projects Romel Lopez said the suspect was arrested in an entrapment operation at the DSWD-Central Office on September 16.

An initial investigation showed that the suspect visited the DSWD Central Office last week to supposedly seek medical assistance.

He presented forged identification cards and documents, unaware that he was under surveillance by the DSWD after his photo came up in various transactions using different names.

“Supposedly nakakuha sya ng P3,500 na medical assistance, ‘yun nga lang dinampot na sya ng mga awtoridad. Di naman tumanggi ang suspect at nagawa lang nya dahil sa pangangailangan," Lopez told reporters in a media briefing on Monday.

"Pero just the same, di naman iyon ang tamang gawain dahil ang medical assistance ay nilalaan natin sa mga nangangailangang mga kababayan,” he added.

(He received P3,500 supposedly but he is now arrested. He did not deny the allegations and said he only did that because of financial need. But just the same, it’s not the right thing to do because the medical assistance is for indigent patients.)

“Sa aming investigation, ito ‘yung pang-sampung beses na ginawa niya ito. Pitong beses na ginawa na niya sa NCR field office and dito nakadalawa na siya, ito na yung pangatlo,” Lopez said.

(Based on our investigation, this is the 10th time he did this. Seven of these are in the NCR field office and two here in the Central office.)

Lopez said the police were now looking for five other suspects whom Diaz said he was in connivance with.

“Ito po ay paalala din sa ating mga kababayan na nagnanais na gumawa ng kalokohan, paglaruan ang pera ang mga programa ng gobyerno. Ang DSWD ay nakatutok sa mga programa, una para mapabilis ito," Lopez said.

"Mapadali ang paga-avail ng mga kababayan pero ang aming warning sa kanila, kami ay nakatutok sa aming mga programa para masiguro na ito ay mapunta sa intended beneficiaries,” he added.

(This is a warning to all Filipinos who are planning to brew trouble and toy with the government’s funds and programs. The DSWD is now focusing on our programs. First, is to speed up the programs' availing and make sure they go to the intended beneficiaries.)

“Ito ang ating paghihigpit na ginagawa, kaya paalala po wag na po nila subukan dahil siguradong may kalalagayna sila ngayon,” Lopez said.

(This is the measure we are taking. That’s why I am warning them because they will surely be apprehended.)

The suspect is now under police custody and is facing charges for estafa, swindling using a fictitious name, and falsification of public documents, according to Lopez. —NB, GMA News