Zubiri warns vs phone scams
NOT even Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has been spared by unscrupulous scammers who pretended to be a high government official from the province of Siquijor.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Zubiri confirmed that he received a phone call on his private number last Aug. 14, 2022, asking him for a certain amount for their political convention in exchange for “political support”.
The said “scammers” introduced themselves as “Governor Jec Jec Villa” and “Board Member Abner Lomongo” from Siquijor Province.
“Nanghihingi sila ng pera para daw sa kanilang political convention, kapalit ng patuloy daw nilang suporta para sa akin,” Zubiri recounted.
Zubiri said that he found it “odd” that these alleged officials were very insistent and demanding, causing him to doubt that this was actually a scam.
It so happened that the chief of staff of Sen. Nancy Binay was the wife of Gov. Jec Jec Villa, which prompted him to validate the call with Binay.
Immediately, Zubiri confirmed this was a scam using the name of so-called officials. He called Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Rodolfo Azurin, who ordered an entrapment operation that successfully treated two men aged 45 and 25.
Zubiri warned everyone to be careful so as not to fall victim to similar scams. Some callers may represent themselves as representatives of the government, bank employees, telemarketers, or an old friend to scam you for money.
“Ibinahagi ko ang naging karanasan ko, para magbigay babala tungkol sa modus ng ilang mga indibidwal na tumatarget sa mga politiko at opisyal, gaya ko at ng dalawa pang senador na kilala ko,” Zubiri said.
