EXECUTIVES of a Pampanga-based food delivery enterprise on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, claimed it is engaged in a legitimate business.
Leaders of Lokal Plate stressed this in reaction to allegations that the firm is engaged in fraudulent transactions, including soliciting investment or trading securities.
"We assure our partners and other stakeholders that we are a legitimate business," it said.
The firm claimed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SE) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have been "misled" by an anonymous complaint by one Angela Santos.
"Santos is not a franchisee nor involved in any of our business. We simply don't know her," the food company said.
Lokal Plate officers said they were deprived of due process.
"We were not furnished a copy of the formal complaint beforehand and they did not seek our comments before the advisory was released," it said.
The food firm said it is engaged in the business of franchising compliant with SEC rules.
Lokal Plate assured that it acknowledged the advisory of the SEC and the probe being conducted by the NBI.
"As a legitimate business, we don't tolerate any kind of fraud. They can expect that we will fully cooperate with any investigation to clear our name and to dispel rumors that we have no legal authority to engage in franchising or we use franchising as a guide to soliciting investments," Lokal Plate said.
Lokal Plate partnered with Pampanga-based restaurants in a bid to cope up with the new normal during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It delivers Kapampangan delicacies and food products to customers in Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Rizal, Laguna, Antipolo, Cavite and Metro Manila.
Lokal Plate also helps market food products online and provide customer service.
The firm has more than 28 partner-restaurants, including Aling Lucing, Teresita Rason Halo Halo, Prime Cut, Quisina, and others.