Binay warns public against text scams

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay warned the public yesterday not to believe a circulating text message informing recipients that they have won in a raffle supposedly sponsored by the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

“The Vice President and the OVP do not engage in any raffle games. This is an obvious scam and I am calling on the Filipino people to be careful of such fraud,” Benjamin Martinez, Binay’s chief of staff, said in a statement.

Martinez urged recipients of the text message to immediately report it to authorities.

Last August, the OVP warned the public of a similar text scam about winning P750,000 in a raffle sponsored by a certain Millionaires’ Club of the Vice President.

The OVP again alerted the public when another scam circulated, this time stating that Binay was buying real estate for government housing projects and for personal use.

“It is unfortunate that some people use the name of the Vice President to deceive their fellow Filipinos. We will not tolerate such acts. We have requested the appropriate authorities to investigate into this concern,” Martinez said.