Manila: Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Monday ordered an intensified monitoring of fraudulent donation drives that have emerged in the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm Opong. This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive and under the guidance of Interior Secretary Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla, aiming to ensure that all relief efforts are protected from exploitation and that assistance genuinely reaches affected families and communities.
According to Philippines News Agency, Nartatez has tasked the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to keep a vigilant eye on social media platforms, websites, and e-wallet transactions to swiftly identify and apprehend scammers exploiting the public’s generosity. He advises the public to verify before donating, noting that legitimate donation drives are typically organized by well-known organizations, government agencies, or accredited NGOs. Nartatez has emphasized checking official announcements, verified social media pages, and official bank accounts, and to be cautious of personal accounts soliciting donations, especially if details are vague or unverifiable.
The PNP-ACG has launched nationwide operations to detect and shut down fake donation campaigns and is rolling out an awareness campaign to help citizens distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent donation drives. Victims are urged to report incidents immediately to the nearest police station or directly to the PNP-ACG, preserving proof such as receipts, screenshots, and online correspondence to aid investigations. Reports can also be filed through cybercrime hotlines, official PNP social media accounts, or by email.
Nartatez encourages the public to remain vigilant and discerning in where they channel their generosity, ensuring donations go to legitimate and verified organizations so that assistance truly reaches those affected by Opong. He warns those exploiting the tragedy for personal gain that the PNP will pursue them and they will face the full force of the law.
PNP-ACG chief Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang, during a press briefing at Camp Crame, cautioned against social media accounts using the ACG’s name offering paid services to conduct investigations on online scam cases. He noted that they are monitoring four Facebook pages using his name and image, as well as the PNP-ACG, for scamming activities. A report suggests that a victim has already paid PHP10,000 to one of the fake pages, prompting Yang to urge netizens to protect their accounts, especially their Facebook profiles, to prevent identity theft.
Yang mentioned that they are coordinating with online payment outlets and Meta for information regarding the transaction and personal information of the page administrator. He reported a 29.62 percent decrease in core cybercrime cases from Sept. 1 to 25 this year, compared to the same period last year, with 278 cases reported. Cyber-related offenses also dropped 37.07 percent, with 382 cases compared to 607 last year in the same period. A total of 68 individuals have been arrested since the start of September.
