BACOLOD City — Mayor Greg Gasataya has ordered the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to investigate and pursue a scammer who allegedly used his identity, and possibly a voice-cloned version of his voice, to deceive a working student and a local business owner into transferring nearly P10,000.
Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Marty Go said the incident occurred at around 3:55 a.m. when an unidentified caller allegedly posed as Gasataya and contacted the victims.
Go said the suspect reportedly booked two rooms at a nearby hotel, claiming they were intended for arriving official guests and uniformed personnel.
The caller then asked to speak with the hotel security guard and requested assistance in locating a GCash facility, claiming his personal bank accounts were temporarily unavailable.
The security guard referred the caller to an EC Pay terminal at a nearby Supermart. The suspect then spoke with the store’s duty cashier, a working student who had been employed for only two weeks, and ordered food for his supposed guests.
The caller subsequently instructed the cashier to transfer money directly to an account, promising to reimburse the amount upon his arrival.
Under pressure, the cashier processed two PayMaya transactions totaling P9,900.
Gasataya personally met with the victims — the security guard, cashier and store owner Neil Conde — at his office on August 24 to express his concern and condemn the incident.
The victims reportedly said the caller’s voice sounded exactly like that of the mayor, raising concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) voice-cloning technology may have been used.
“I will not tolerate criminals exploiting my identity, especially to prey on local businesses and honest workers. I have requested the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) for an immediate investigation and crackdown to bring the scammers to justice,” Gasataya said.
Go said the incident was not the first time Gasataya’s identity had allegedly been used in a scam.
A similar incident was reported on September 15, 2025, when a caller allegedly impersonated the mayor to order food from a local seafood restaurant and solicit money through GCash.
Gasataya directed BCPO Director Col. Eugene Rebadomia to conduct an immediate investigation and identify those behind the latest scheme.
The city government is also coordinating with the National Telecommunications Commission and financial service providers to trace the mobile number and financial account allegedly used in the scam.
Following the repeated use of the mayor’s identity, the city government reminded residents and business establishments to verify requests for money or financial transactions allegedly coming from the Mayor’s Office.
Residents who receive suspicious calls or messages claiming to be from Gasataya or other city officials are urged to report them immediately to the Philippine National Police or the City Mayor’s Office./PN
