DepEd–NIR warns public after student scam incident

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Department of Education–Negros Island Region has urged students and teachers to remain vigilant after four Grade 9 students in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, were reportedly scammed by a man posing as a DepEd employee.

Almyr Caezar Dequiña, public information officer of DepEd–NIR, said the incident happened Monday morning while the students — three girls and one boy — were at the city’s public plaza during a holiday with no classes.

A man who introduced himself as “John Dela Peña,” and appeared to be wearing a DepEd uniform, approached the group initially asking for directions, claiming to have health issues.

He then shifted the conversation to online gaming, specifically Mobile Legends, and invited the students to form a team with him.

Gaining their trust, he bought them snacks and promised to give each of them PHP2,500 and a new cellphone in exchange for borrowing their phones or gaming accounts.

The students handed over a total of six phones — four initially, and two more after one student went home to get additional devices, according to Dequiña.

The man then brought them to a computer shop for data transfer and attempted to take another student’s phone, but the student ran away in fear.

He later asked one of the students to accompany him to a convenience store for a supposed fund transfer, but instead took the student to the San Miguel area.

What happened there remains unclear, Dequiña said.

The suspect eventually sent the student back to the group alone in a tricycle and never returned.

All the contact information and codes he had shared turned out to be fake, prompting the students to report the incident to police.

Authorities have launched an investigation and have secured closed-circuit television footage to help identify the suspect.

Dequiña emphasized that while the case appears isolated, DepEd–NIR is treating it seriously and is coordinating closely with law enforcement.

He said the safety of students and personnel remains the department’s top priority.

Psychological first aid and debriefing were given to the affected students.

As of Aug. 26, the only male victim had not yet returned to school.

Support services for all students are ongoing.

In an advisory posted on social media, the regional office reminded the public that only legitimate DepEd personnel carry official identification cards and should always be verified before any engagement.

Students and teachers are also advised never to entrust personal belongings to anyone claiming to represent DepEd without proper validation.

Any suspicious individuals or similar incidents must be reported immediately to school officials or local authorities.

“Let us remain alert and cooperative in preventing similar fraudulent acts,” the advisory said.