BACOLOD City – The City Mayor’s Office (CMO) urged the public to be wary of people introducing themselves as members of a religious group and claiming to have been authorized by the city government to solicit money.
Lawyer Karol Joseph Chiu, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez’s secretary-to-the-mayor, told Panay News that alleged members of a religious sect were roaming around the city asking for financial contributions and claiming to have gotten authorization for such from the CMO.
Chiu emphasized that the CMO had not authorized any group to solicit for whatever.
“Any misrepresentation should be reported immediately to the police,” he added.
Last week, Chiu said persons introduced themselves as priests from Compostella Valley and asked the CMO for financial assistance.
Then, on Tuesday, Dec. 20, he surprised that one of his law firm companions informed him about persons from an alleged religious group were soliciting money using the name of the CMO.
According to Chiu, the city government does not condone solicitations because these are against the law.
“Dapat mangin vigilant ang mga tawo kag busisi-on gid nila ang papeles kon ini valid kag ano ang kamatuoran,” Chiu said.
He added, “Mahimo nga ini isa ka misrepresentation para gub-on kami.”/PN
