Bong Go warns Filipinos against scammers using his name; says he will not tolerate such acts of deceit

Following the arrest of an individual for misrepresenting himself as connected to the office of Senator Christopher "Bong" Go and extorting money from business people and private individuals, Go warned Filipinos against scammers who use his name and urged the public to report perpetrators to the proper authorities.

"Pinapaalalahanan ko po ang ating mga kababayan: huwag po tayo magpaloko. Kung walang magpapaloko, hindi mananaig ang mga manloloko," Go said.

"Para naman sa mga manloloko, maawa naman kayo sa kapwa ninyong Pilipino. Nasa gitna tayo ng krisis, gamitin n'yo sana ang oras ninyo para tumulong kaysa gumawa ng kalokohan," he lamented.

Go called on authorities to crack down on imposters doing illegal acts to fool fellow Filipinos, saying that the Duterte Administration will not tolerate such acts of deceit.

"Magsumbong po kayo. I-report ninyo. Galit tayo sa mga manloloko. Kapag hinayaan natin mga 'yan, mas marami pa 'yang mabibiktima," urged Go.

"Lahat naman tayo gusto makaraos sa hirap, lalo na sa panahon ng krisis. Pero gawin natin ito sa paraang hindi nanlalamang o nangsasamantala ng kapwa. Ang bayanihan natin at pagmamalasakit sa kapwa ang kailangan upang malampasan ang mga pagsubok na ating hinaharap," he appealed.

The National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday, March 11, announced the arrest of an individual by NBI-Special Operations Group (NBI-SOG) for misrepresenting himself as connected to Go and extorting money from unwitting business and private individuals.

In a statement issued by NBI, an operation was conducted following a complaint by one of the victims alleging that a certain John Carlos Garcia introduced himself to be connected to Go. The perpetrator was reported to have defrauded business people and private individuals from the provinces of Albay, Laguna, Quezon and Rizal.

The NBI stated that Garcia was sighted in a resort in Bolinao, Pangasinan on March 10, 2021, using the car he purchased from one of his victims. NBI-SOG proceeded to apprehend him with a warrant of arrest.

At the height of the pandemic, Go has also warned Filipinos against individuals who use his name and President Rodrigo Duterte's for their own vested interests.

The Senator emphasized that he and President Duterte will not allow these unscrupulous individuals to profit using their names and that even their families and friends are "prohibited to use their names for vested interests."

"Gaya ng sinabi ko noon, kung may tauhan, kaibigan o kamag-anak kami na gagamit ng pangalan namin ni Pangulong Duterte para sa sarili nilang interes, dapat automatic denied iyan," Go said.

"Kung mayroon naman kaming staff na pumapasok sa negosyo para rin sa sarili nilang interes, automatic tanggal iyan sa trabaho," he added.

Meanwhile, Go also appealed to the public to remain vigilant to avoid falling for these scams.

"Huwag po tayo papayag na maloko ng mga ganitong scams. Kung may kahina-hinalang tao po kayo na kilala na nagsasagawa ng ganitong illegal activities, sabihan lang po natin ang mga kinauukulan," Go advised the public.

He also warned scammers that justice will eventually catch up with them.

"Sa mga nangsasamantala lalo na sa panahon ng krisis, huwag kayo mag-alala. Aabutan rin kayo ng hustisya," he warned.