Mayor Greg Gasataya has directed the police to take swift action following a brazen impersonation scam that targeted a working student and a local business owner early morning Monday, Aug. 24, at 24H Supermart along Rizal Street in Bacolod City.
Investigation showed that, at around 3:55 a.m., an unidentified caller allegedly posed as the mayor to deceive the victims into transferring funds. The suspect reportedly booked two rooms at a nearby hotel for arriving guests and uniformed personnel. He then requested to talk to the hotel’s security guard and asked for assistance to locate a GCash facility, claiming that his personal bank accounts were temporarily unavailable.
The guard referred the caller to an EC Pay terminal available at the 24H Supermart. The suspect then spoke with the store’s duty cashier — a working student employed only two weeks prior — and ordered food for his supposed guests. He then demanded the cashier to transfer funds directly to his account, promising immediate reimbursement upon arrival. Under pressure, the cashier processed two PayMaya transactions, for a total of P9,900, the city said.
When he learned about the incident, Gasataya met with the victims — the security guard, the cashier, and the store owner — to express his concern and condemn the fraud.
The victims claimed that the caller’s voice sounded exactly like the mayor, raising concerns over the possible use of artificial intelligence voice-cloning technology.
“I will not tolerate criminals exploiting my identity, especially to prey on local businesses and honest workers,” Gasataya stressed in a city press release. “I have requested the Bacolod City Police Office for an immediate investigation and crackdown to bring the scammers to justice.”
This is not the first reported incident. A similar scam occurred on Sept. 15, 2025, when a caller impersonated the mayor to order food at a local seafood restaurant and solicited funds via GCash.
Gasataya has instructed BCPO director, P/Col. Eugene Rebadomia, to launch a full investigation and apprehend those responsible. The city government is also coordinating with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and financial service providers to trace the mobile number and account used in the scheme.
The city government called on the public to verify all requests for money transfers purportedly coming from the Mayor’s Office. Anyone encountering such calls or messages is encouraged to report them immediately to the PNP, or the City Mayor’s Office. ||
