(Eagle News) — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday, April 24 advised the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) to conduct entrapment operations to nab barangay officials who are reportedly demanding exorbitant fees in exchange for Boracay Identification cards (IDs).
“I am sure the barangay official/s concerned know who they are. I thought it wise to expose with an advice to DILG to set up entrapment operations, para itigil nila ang kalokohan nila,” he said in a message to Senate media.
Lacson said that he received the information about barangay officials asking for money from a friend who owned a resort in Boracay Island.
“My information is not based on hearsay. Rather, it was on account of a spontaneous reaction by a friend of mine who was being told that he should cough up P400,000 for IDs that he was requesting for his staff and employees who are based and housed in Boracay,” Lacson revealed.
“Napakalaki (ng) P400,000, so racket yan! Dahil sinamantala nila ang utos ng pangulo na walang makakapasok riyan na di tagaroon, na hindi resident,” Lacson said.
The DILG said it will investigate the matter.
Chief Superintendent Cesar Binag, director of Police Regional Office 6, said that non-residents should only be paying P150 for a barangay clearance, and another P50 for a community tax certificate or cedula.
A barangay ID usually costs P300, he said in a press briefing.
The DILG will require Boracay Island residents to show IDs that will show that they are residents of the island after its scheduled closure on April 26.
