QUEZON CITY, July 18 (PIA) — The Department of Health – Mimaropa warned about people or organizations pretending to be representatives of the Regional Office to defraud government and private medical facilities.

DOH-Mimaropa Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said someone will call up a hospital and identify himself as “Director Janairo.”

The suspect will then request the hospital for immediate hotel accommodation and catering services allegedly for emergency meeting or workshop.

After all accommodations are pre-arranged and approved, the suspect who claimed to be the Regional Director will call up the hotel management and cancel the event.

The suspect or his organization will then encash or reimburse the money paid by the targeted hospital or health facility.

Among the health facilities that have encountered such demand were the Ospital ng Palawan and The Cooperative Hospital/Medical Mission Group, both located in Puerto Princesa City.

Director Janairo advised hospitals and health facilities not to transact any business to persons introducing themselves as DOH-Mimaropa officials without verification of their identities.

Such modus operandi, Janairo said, must be reported to the police as soon as possible.

Janairo stressed that the regional office will never ask for such accommodation. (LP/DOH-Mimaropa)