DTI warns against impostors posing as DTI Secretary

Tuesday 3rd of July 2012

QUEZON CITY, July 3 -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is warning the business community and the general public against the modus operandi of a person pretending to be DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo and soliciting sponsorship for government programs, project and events.

DTI Director Thelma Dumpit-Murillo said calls were received by the Department through its Foreign Trade Service Corps’ (FTSC) Coordinating Office in Manila from the office of one businessman verifying the veracity of a solicitation letter allegedly from a person claiming to be Secretary Domingo, according to a release from DTI.

Apparently, a man claiming that he is Secretary Gregorio Domingo of the DTI called the businessman’s office to follow-up on the latter’s pledge for sponsorship for the Philippine Independence Day celebration in the amount of P30,000 and to be deposited to the account of his secretary, Ms. Ester Avilla at BPI Family Bank Account #5886533403. The businessman’s office then called FTSC to verify if Secretary Domingo was indeed soliciting donations.

A text message following up the amount to be deposited was sent from mobile number +63.927.3479679.

The DTI Secretary vehemently denies he wrote such solicitation letters or requests for donations for Philippine Independence Day celebration or any other government programs, projects and activities for that matter. He likewise clarified that he has not authorized any person to undertake such solicitations.

This is the second time that this has happened. In a similar incident back in December last year, the DTI was also informed by some businessmen that a person claiming to be Secretary Domingo made phone calls and sent text messages to the business community to solicit donations.

Should the public comes across a similar incident, the DTI advises them to report it immediately to the Office of the Secretary at 895-7450 or 897-6682 or better yet, to ignore them. (DTI)