Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson advised residents to be vigilant against persons who take personal information from identification cards (IDs) for unknown reasons.
Lacson has already discussed with Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office director, Colonel Rainerio de Chavez, regarding a Chinese-looking individual who reportedly took photos of IDs in exchange for P400.
According to Lacson, he plans to meet with the Bureau of Immigration to find out the status of foreign nationals in the province.
The governor said he wants to know if there was such activity in the province so that the residents will be more aware of identity theft.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regarding the alleged picture-taking of the IDs of some residents in the city.
City Legal Office head, Atty. Romeo Carlos Ting, Jr. said the Sangguniang Panlungsod will meet each village chief in the city to make them aware in case there are similar schemes in their barangays.
Ting said the information on the IDs should be protected and not provided to anyone.
He added that ID owners will be held accountable if their personal information is used in illegal activities.
Earlier, NBI-Bacolod will conduct an investigation into individuals appearing to be Chinese nationals, who reportedly took photos of licenses owned by tricycle drivers in Barangay Vista Alegre.
NBI executive officer, Atty. Jose Gabriel, Jr. said they had already identified one of the two “Chinese-looking” women.
Thirteen tricycle drivers in Barangay Vista Alegre had reportedly fallen prey to the alleged illegal scheme.
The scammers convinced the victims to give their driver’s licenses for a photo session, in exchange for P400.
“This is a serious issue that requires immediate attention,” Gabriel said.
The same individual reportedly went to the said village last June, and took pictures of their IDs.
Gabriel said it is possible that tricycle drivers’ personal details will be used in illegal activities.
“We urge the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities,” Gabriel said./WDJ