Manila probes PLM entrance exam racket

MANILA, Philippines - A Manila City official ordered yesterday an investigation into allegations that an associate of a Manila councilor reportedly received money from prospective enrollees at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) by promising they will be admitted to the school even if they fail the entrance examinations.

In a statement, the city government said the racket was bared after two students who failed to pass the admission test at the PLM sought the help of Rafaelito Garayblas, secretary to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and concurrently president of PLM.

Garayblas warned students and parents not to believe that admission to the PLM can be bought and to report to his office such encounters.

The mother of one of the victims, identified by the city government only as a certain Analyn, told Garayblas that a certain “Boy Mendoza” who claimed to be from the office of the councilor, went to their residence to offer his “services.”

Analyn said Mendoza asked P3,000 in exchange for assured admission to the PLM for her 16-year-old daughter and her male friend, aged 22.

The victims said they were convinced especially after Mendoza brought them to the Manila City Hall and they saw him going in and out of the councilor’s office and that the staff inside knew him.

The victims said that they decided to seek the help of Garayblas when they completed paying Mendoza and they received no notice of admission.

Garayblas assured the victims that an investigation will be conducted to establish if indeed Mendoza is connected with the office of the councilor.