Mayor Isko Moreno and his executive assistant Weng Santiago at work in the mayor’s office. Photo by JERRY S. TAN
Isko: Stop placing fake food delivery orders
AN appeal was made by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to unscrupulous individuals to stop placing fake food delivery orders using his office, saying the riders or delivery boys are the ones actually suffering from the prank, not him.
He also advised the food apps and delivery riders not to entertain any transaction using his name to spare themselves from the headache.
Moreno stressed that for one, he never orders from restaurants as the food he eats every day is usually just cooked from the kitchen in his office. His executive assistant Weng Santiago said the mayor goes for simple ‘lutong bahay’ dishes instead of fancy food items from food establishments.
The mayor also said he does not have a single account in any mobile apps that cater to food deliveries, so that he called on those involved in the said business to disregard any transaction using his name or that of his office.
It was learned that this week, five fake delivery orders came to the mayor’s office beginning with two on Monday afternoon.
Santiago was told by Moreno to pay for the two orders of pizza, specially after the mayor learned that the riders will be charged if they don’t get paid. The orders, costing about P1,000 each, came from the same food establishment although from separate branches and the food was given to the employees.
The staff at the receiving counter was then told by Santiago that should any similar fake orders arrive, they should contact the office of LtCol. Jhun Ibay of the Manila Police District- special mayor’s reaction team (SMART) so that a probe can be made as to who is behind the prank.
On Thursday afternoon, three fake orders came one after another, beginning at 12:10 p.m. and then at 12:33 p.m. and again on 12:43 p.m. The holder of the fake account that placed the orders even advised the delivery riders concerned: “Pakidala po sa mayors office thank you pa assist nlng po kayo.”
The orders placed by the fake ‘Isko Domagoso Moreno’ account were for a pork dish, drinks and pizza, respectively, and were placed using various international mobile numbers. Of the three, only the pizza delivery boy got paid since the two other delivery riders no longer came back to the mayor’s office after they were investigated.
Moreno meanwhile lamented that even in the middle of a pandemic where everyone is suffering in various ways specially economically, there are still some who really lack a conscience and can manage to dupe others, specially food delivery riders who are only trying to make a decent living.
