MANILA -- Officials and employees of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have been warned against unscrupulous individuals who are using President Rodrigo Duterte’s name to solicit or accept campaign funds or materials supposedly for senatorial candidates he is endorsing.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero issued the warning Thursday after receiving reports that certain individuals have been defrauding some people from the private and public sectors, including the BOC, to ask for aid -- financial or in kind – in support of aspirants running in the May 13 polls.
“They are claiming that the President has authorized them to solicit funds in favor of the senatorial candidates he has personally endorsed,” Guerrero said in a statement.
“The President never authorized or ordered anyone to solicit money intended for campaign on his behalf,” the BOC chief added.
Guerrero advised all Customs stakeholders to be wary of these unscrupulous individuals and immediately inform the Customs help desk, BOC-CARES at 705-6000.
The public may also send a message to the official Facebook page, Bureau of Customs PH.
Victims of such money-making schemes are also asked to report the incidents to the National Bureau of Investigation or other law enforcement agencies.
The election campaign for senatorial positions and party-list groups began on February 12 and runs until May 11. (PNA)
