BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Camp Montelibano will probe deep into the alleged recruitment scam that has victimized scores of residents in the southern Negros Occidental town of La Castellana who allegedly paid a total of at least P10 million to a woman who claimed she could guarantee a commission in the National Police with very minimal requirements and almost no training.
But as the issue dragged to its first week, the alleged scam had already turned into a word war between two former political allies and blood relatives in La Castellana town – Mayor Rhummyla Mangilimutan and Councilor Donato Dumaguit who, some complainants claimed, bridged them to a woman fixer.
Dumaguit, who confirmed to DNX he is now on the run and fears for his life, said Mangilimutan wants to destroy his political reputation and might even have him killed.
Mangilimutan, however, told DNX when sought for comment that threats on Dumaguit’s life are to be expected because of the claims that he hoodwinked people.
“Come to think of it, there are more than 40 people who are claiming that you tricked them. That means more than 40 people are angry at you,” Mangilimutan said.
Dumaguit described Mangilimutan’s disclosure of the complaints against him as part of a plan to destroy his political image.
Provincial Police Office chief information officer, Captain Judesses Catalogo, told DNX provincial director, Colonel Leo Pamittan wants to make sure no policeman in the roster of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office became a policeman without training just by paying a fee to Dumaguit and a woman identified as Mary June Delos Santos.
Catalogo said the initial complaints from 47 town residents showed Delos Santos, through Dumaguit, was paid sums of money between P100,000 and P200,000 in exchange for a commission in the National Police or a slot in the Regional Training Center.
Police are still probing the allegations of the town residents.
