Manila: Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has issued a warning to the public about scammers impersonating agency employees and using her name to solicit money.

According to Philippines News Agency, Pangandaman condemned the fraudulent activities, emphasizing that no one is authorized by the DBM to solicit or collect money for any transaction. She urged the public to report such incidents to the proper authorities immediately.

The warning followed reports of two individuals, Mariz Luna and Lilian Jordan, who have been approaching local government units while falsely claiming affiliation with the DBM. These individuals allegedly promised local officials a share of a supposed PHP1-billion reward from the Bureau of Customs (BOC), in exchange for an advance payment of PHP10 million.

The DBM confirmed that the suspects are not affiliated with the agency, describing the scam as both exploitative and illegal. BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno also denied the existence of such a reward, stating that the agency has no transactions involving payments from local government units and vowed to take legal action against those misusing the BOC's name.

The DBM assured ongoing collaboration with relevant agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible for the scam. Pangandaman advised the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to avoid falling victim to similar schemes. Concerns can be reported to the DBM Community Relations Office hotline at 8657-3300 local 2524, or via email at [email protected]. The department promised to keep the identities of informants confidential.