ILOILO City – Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. believes the scamming of four restaurants on Thursday in which his name was used by a conman was politically motivated.
Yesterday three more restaurants reported having received phone calls or text messages from a person pretending to be Defensor or claiming to be calling on behalf of the Office of the Governor and had them prepare meals for large groups of people that did not show up.
Defensor said these were parts of plots to destroy his reputation as the May 2019 midterm elections draw near.
“They are pathetic. They are panicking and getting more desperate,” said Defensor yesterday upon his return to the provincial capitol from Metro Manila.
The governor believed the person or persons who duped the restaurants were “mga bata-bata sang aton mga kasumpong sa politika” but he did not give names.
“They think that by destroying me, the gubernatorial bid of my son, Cong. Arthur ‘Toto’ Defensor Jr., would suffer. They are targeting me even if I am not running for any elective post in the 2019 elections because they have no issues to raise against Congressman Defensor,” said the governor.
Defensor thanked the Ilonggos for their continued trust and confidence in his governance and for appreciating the many good things his administration had done these past nine years.
On Thursday the four restaurants victimized by the impostor were Salt Gastro on General Luna Street, City Proper; Spring Palace at Smallville Complex, Mandurriao district; 7 Fishes Restaurant in Mandurriao; and Ocean City on General Luna Street, City Proper.
Yesterday, three more restaurants alerted the Office of the Governor. These were Bauhinia Restaurant at Smallville Complex; Muelle Deli and Restaurant on Rizal Street, Lapuz district; and Samurai Talabahan in Mandurriao.
The Office of the Governor sought the help of the Iloilo Business Club in alerting resorts, hotels and restaurant in Iloilo City about persons using the governor’s name.
It also requested the Iloilo City Police Office to investigate the scam and unmask the culprits./PN
