Fake DSWD coordinator nabbed

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines — A man who posed as a coordinator of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was arrested in this city on Tuesday.

City police chief Col. Aaron Mandia identified the suspect as Jhon Carl Mendoza, 30, a native of Trece Martires in Cavite.

Mendoza was arrested after receiving P850 in marked money from a policeman who posed as an applicant for the educational assistance program of the DSWD.

Police conducted the entrapment after receiving reports that the suspect had been asking money from applicants to receive ayuda under the various social amelioration programs of the DSWD.

Maj. Mario Mantalla Jr., police station 4 commander, intelligence operatives and DSWD-Northern Mindanao regional director Mari-Flor Dollaga and her staff joined the arresting team.

DSWD social amelioration application forms, documents for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program or 4Ps, a fake DSWD ID and a fake DSWD vest were among the items recovered from the suspect.

DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo warned the public against giving money in exchange for being enlisted as beneficiaries of cash assistance from the DSWD.

“Do not entertain people who will be asking money from you. If you want to be included in the 4Ps, in the SLP (Sustainable Livelihood program) and other programs of the DSWD, it is free of charge,” Tulfo told a virtual press briefing yesterday.

“If you are being charged to be included in the list (of beneficiaries), you should be suspicious because it is illegal. We are not charging any fees,” he added.

Tulfo said beneficiaries of flagship welfare programs of the DSWD are not decided by DSWD field personnel, but by social workers who evaluate and assess applicants at the main office, regional and satellite field offices of the department.

He said barangay officials have not been deputized to recruit beneficiaries of cash aid from DSWD.

However, Tulfo said some local government units have tapped barangay officials for their own relief programs.