DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio warns the public against individuals seeking food and financial solicitation in private residences.
Duterte-Carpio, in a radio interview on Tuesday, April 21, said she had been previously receiving reports of certain individuals roaming around house to house in some private subdivisions, handing out typewritten solicitation letters asking for food and money.
“Before, ako nadunggan is manuktok sila, visibly well-dressed, and muingon nga sila ang tinuod nga pobre. Pwede ba daw sila tagaan og pagkaon, ug kwarta (What I’ve heard before is that these well-dressed individuals would be going from house to house, and would say that they are the real marginalized in this current situation, and would be asking for food and money),” the mayor said during an interview via 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
The public should not entertain these individuals, she said, as they might have contact with persons who have exposure to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
“Ayaw mo og duol sa ing-ani nga mga tao. Ayaw mo og gunit sa mga papel na ginapasa-pasa because kini ang mga mode of transmission sa mga sakit (Do not make physical contact with these people. Also, do not touch the letters they are handing out as these have already been passed on from different people, which can be a mode of transmission of the virus),” Duterte-Carpio said.
The mayor also received reports of individuals soliciting food and financial assistance for the police frontliners.
She, however, denied that the Philippine National Police (PNP), particularly the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), is behind this.
“Please note na ang atoang DCPO ug PNP wala sila’y ginamanduan or ginasugo nga mga tao nga magtuyok-tuyok sa mga subdivision, mga panimalay, sa kadalanan, nga manuktok ug mangayo og pagkaon (Please note that the DCPO nor PNP did not authorize anyone to roam around the subdivision and do house-to-house solicitation asking for food for our policemen),” Duterte-Carpio said.
She added these men deployed at checkpoints and other areas in the ground are well-provided with regular food and packed lunch.
She emphasized that roaming around is prohibited during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
The mayor, however, said it is upon the “judgment” of the people if they would be handing out donations to them, but she emphasized that they not directly hand it out to them to avoid close contact.