Priest warns vs fake seminarian soliciting funds in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY --The dean of a seminary has warned the public against a fake seminarian who is duping people by soliciting funds in various parishes in North Cotabato. Fr. Rey Salvador DCK, the dean of the diocesan seminary in Barangay Balindog here said the fake seminarian is claiming that he needs money for his theological studies. Salvador said seminaries do not send out their seminarians to solicit funds. The priest said there are sponsors who provide financial assistance to seminarians. Salvador advised those who are interested to give donations to seminaries to get in touch with the offices of the seminaries. “We issued acknowledgement receipt to whatever donations that may reach in our office. We do this for transparency and legality," Salvador said. “We were alarmed following the influx of queries in our office regarding this person who uses our seminary in soliciting financial assistance to our parishioners," Salvador said after celebrating the Holy Mass at the Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace cathedral on Sunday afternoon. “As dean of our diocesan seminary I will not allow that somebody will use our office to fool our parishioners. Please be careful with this scammer," Salvador added. Salvador said the suspect allegedly used different names of people and seminaries to fool people. “We are thankful for our parishioners who are prompt in reporting this matter to our attention to put an end to this modus operandi of this person," the priest said. Salvador said some parishioners of Kidapawan diocese already give donations to the suspect. The priest however could not provide a figure on how much the fake seminarian collected from the people. He also added that while the seminarian may have been successful in fooling some people, eventually the suspect will face the justice of God. – VVP, GMA News