Abalos, San Pedro warn traders vs con men

MANILA, Philippines - Mayors Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. of Mandaluyong City and Aldrin San Pedro of Muntinlupa City warned traders and business establishments yesterday against persons using their names to solicit cash donations for the holidays.

Abalos said he “never gave a go signal to anybody to use my name in any solicitation activity. I will not do that with my taxpayers.” He ordered city police chief Senior Superintendent Carlos de Sagun to unmask and prosecute those behind the racket.

De Sagun told The STAR that a man called up Honda Philippines last week and solicited P20,000, purportedly for Abalos’ Christmas party. The caller asked Honda officials to deposit the money with Western Union.

Honda officials refused to do so after checking with Abalos, who denied ordering the solicitation.

De Sagun said the officials of Shangri-La Plaza received a similar call, this time asking P20,000 for the Christmas party of Abalos and his staff in Tagaytay City.

The caller urged hotel officials to deposit the money immediately with Western Union, saying their Christmas party is ongoing. Hotel officials refrained from doing so after checking with Abalos, De Sagun said.

He urged businessmen to report such calls to the police.

As for San Pedro, he warned that several companies have been victimized by callers with a similar modus operandi.

“I am warning companies not to fall prey to this evil scheme. The syndicate is using my name and the city government to victimize companies in Muntinlupa,” the mayor said.

Several companies told the city government that the caller asked for money purportedly to be used in helping patients and the sick in the city.

A few companies fell prey to the scheme and deposited money in the Western Union account, then checked with the city government if it received the money.

San Pedro ordered authorities to arrest the members of the syndicate. “I want them jailed immediately. We will not let them victimize more companies,” he said. – Non Alquitran, Rhodina Villanueva