NP warns OFWs vs scam offering cash rewards in Villar's name

Detractors of presidential bet Sen. Manuel “Manny" Villar Jr. has unleashed yet another scam designed to put the blame on his door: text messages claiming to be from his housing foundation are promising cash rewards for overseas Filipino workers. In a statement, the Nacionalista Party warned the public not to believe the text scam announcing a P950,000-cash reward supposedly being given out by Villar’s Handog-Pabahay sa OFW. A sample message read: “The auditors of Manny Villar charity foundation inform you that your cell phone number won P950,000 second prize winner drawn last 02/05/10. Handog-pabahay sa mga OFW." The NP secretariat said the text messages are false and meant only to mislead people, in what it claimed are increasing attempts at dirty tricks to derail the rising popularity of its presidential candidate. “[The scammers] even included in the message a DTI permit number and the name of a lawyer to make it appear legitimate. However, we would like to inform the public that Villar’s foundation is not launching any promotion or contest," the statement said. The NP legal team is preparing appropriate legal action against the people or group behind this “black propaganda," the statement added. “We will have this malicious and misleading text message investigated and ask the authorities to go after whoever is behind this scam," NP said. Villar had been the subject of allegations in text messages even before the campaign period started on February 9. In the most recent text barrage, he was accused of forging a pact with First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo that he will ensure President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s election as the speaker of the House of Representatives. Mrs. Arroyo is running for a congressional seat in Pampanga. Villar denied the accusations.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV