By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

La Castellana town Councilor Donato Dumaguit has vehemently denied involvement in the police force recruitment scam, which carted away P15 million from 47 individuals.

In a radio interview on “Bullseye with Bryan Morden” over 96.7 XFM Bacolod yesterday morning, Dumaguit said he only got acquainted with a certain Mary Jun delos Santos during a visit to a coffee shop in the town’s Barangay Cabagnaan.

He said he was approached by Delos Santos and asked him if he knew someone who wanted to enter the Philippine National Police (PNP).

She said she could assist in the admission process.

However, Dumaguit told Delos Santos he didn’t know anyone who wanted to become a police officer.

The councilor never mentioned the exact date when he actually met Delos Santos, but stated he first met her in 2019.

A week later, after meeting Delos Santos, Dumaguit said an applicant approached him and asked for assistance for admission to the PNP, even if he would serve as a backer instead.

Dumaguit referred the person to Delos Santos, as he had no knowledge of the documents required for admission.

The councilor claimed the person talked with Delos Santos on the phone, wherein she allegedly requested a fee amounting between P50,000 and P100,000.

The applicant asked as to where he could send his payment. Delos Santos told him to leave the money to Dumaguit.

The government official claimed he only received the payment, believing he was just helping and doing his part as a “public servant.”

The councilor said he and La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor Mangilimutan had known each other since 2017.

He added that they were the ones who handled aspirants who wanted to become members of the PNP.

However, Dumaguit claimed the relationship between Mangilimutan and Delos Santos soured.

The mayor declared Delos Santos, a resident of Bacolod City’s Barangay Granada, as “persona non grata” in the town.

In response to Dumaguit’s claims, Mangilimutan accused the councilor of lying.

The mayor added that the councilor’s claims are baseless, saying he needs to answer the allegations against him.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson was saddened by what happened to the 47 individuals and in response to their plight.

He said the provincial government is willing to give legal assistance to the victims.

Lacson said many scams have happened recently, but there are still Negrenses who fall victim to them, especially when they are work-related.

However, he stated that those who are scammed cannot be blamed, especially when competition is fierce, before entering the PNP.

Lacson advised the victims to file their affidavits at the La Carlota City Prosecutor’s Office so that they wouldn’t have to travel far.

For his part, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office spokesperson, Police Captain Judesses Catalogo, said they will join the investigation into the PNP recruitment scam.

Catalogo reminded those who want to enter the PNP that they have to follow the proper procedure when hiring new police personnel.

He added that they have adopted the new QR code system in the recruitment process to eliminate the “padrino system.”/DGB, WDJ