Public warned vs fake NGOs, environmentalists soliciting funds

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri has warned the public, particularly owners of business establishments, against unscrupulous persons posing as members of non-government organizations NGOs) and soliciting cash for their non-existent advocacy.

Echiverri raised the alarm after receiving numerous complaints about the modus operandi of a group calling themselves the "Confederation of Youth Organization" (CYO) allegedly advocating for a clean and green environment.

Members of the group were reported to be soliciting P800 in cash from business owners in exchange for one garbage drum and plastic waste bags.

After getting the cash, the group disappears and forgets about their part of the deal.

The mayor said most of the complaints received by City Hall came from establishments along Rizal Avenue Extension, C-3, and A. Mabini street, among others.

Echiverri said the city government has not authorized anyone or any group to ask money from commercial establishments for these things as the services provided by City Hall are financed by city taxpayers.

The group was apparently using the Sanitation Division of the City Health Department to endorse a legitimate advocacy for their nefarious activities. The office is responsible for the issuance of sanitary permits to food establishments, among others.

Officials of the concerned agencies have since declared they neither know these impostors nor have authorized them to check on the businesses’ compliance with environmental and sanitation laws.

The Environmental Sanitation Services (ESS), for its part, is in charge of garbage collection and maintenance of the city’s cleanliness. A verification made with the office revealed they have been on the lookout for members of the CYO for a long time now.

ESS chief Alfonso Sta. Maria said the group first surfaced and has been known to make the rounds since 1995. He said group members were using different names in their solicitation letter given to unwary victims to escape detection. He added he has asked the help of the police to arrest anyone making the unauthorized solicitations.

Among the names used by the bogus environmentalists were "Al de los Reyes, CYO coordinator, Arnel Arevalo, CYO overall chairman (CYO) and Alex Ramos."

The group has been going around lately soliciting funds for a project dubbed "Operation Basurahan."