SRA Warns Public Against Solicitation Scams

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY — The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has warned the public not to engage with any solicitation activities using the agency’s name, calling such acts fraudulent.

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona disclosed during a media briefing Thursday that two incidents involving his name being used for money solicitation have been reported to the police.

The first case, reported on November 27 at Police Station 8, involved an unidentified caller who pretended to be Azcona while soliciting money from one of the agency’s suppliers on November 26.

The supplier verified the caller’s identity and discovered the fraudulent activity.

In a second incident on December 2, a utility worker of the SRA received a call from the agency’s food catering supplier. The supplier reported that a Tagalog-speaking individual had introduced himself as Azcona and asked for a cash donation.

Azcona clarified that the SRA never engages in solicitations, as the agency has an allocated budget for its programs, including disaster response.

“This is a scam,” Azcona said, adding, “It’s kinda weird because I am not involved in any solicitation.”

He assured the public that the agency is working to identify those behind the fraudulent calls.