The Philippine National Police (PNP) has warned of stringent action against groups that are charging people for passport appointments.
The PNP asked people to remain extra cautious about unscrupulous elements.
RELATED STORY: PNP Chief warns May 2022 candidates on using ‘drug money’
It has asked people to remain cautious about groups offering passport appointments on social media sites and COVID-19 swab results without actual tests.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar also directed the Anti Cybercrime Group to look into the matter after the Department of Foreign Affairs sought action against people behind some Facebook pages offering passport appointments to overseas Filipino workers.
The ACG has been asked to conduct an investigation to arrest the culprits.
READ ON: PNP bans anti-vaccine rallies
DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay has asked the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to find out the people behind the Facebook accounts which are offering passport appointments to applicants. He said appointment slots for all consular services are free.
Dulay also asked Facebook to take down these accounts to prevent the public from paying for a service that is free of charge. (AW)