Vice President Sara Duterte issued a stern warning on Tuesday, April 21, over the rising number of fraudulent social media accounts impersonating her and her family members to orchestrate online scams.
In an official advisory posted on her verified Facebook page, Duterte cautioned the public against engaging with unauthorized profiles that use her name and personal photographs to appear legitimate.
She stressed that these accounts are designed to exploit public trust for financial gain and other illicit motives.
“Tulad ng mga nagdaan nating babala, patuloy ang pagdami ng mga social media accounts na ginagamit ang aking pangalan at mga litrato, maging ng aking pamilya, para sa kanilang sariling interes at mga hindi magandang gawain,” Duterte stated.
Zero Tolerance for Solicitations
The Vice President clarified that neither her office nor her family solicits financial assistance or favors from the public.
“Ang aming pamilya ay hinding-hindi humihingi ng pabor, lalo na sa usaping pinansyal, sa publiko,” she added.
Rising Cybersecurity Threats
Her warning comes amid a nationwide spike in impersonation-based cybercrime. Fraudsters have increasingly targeted the identities of government officials and public figures to bypass skepticism online. Cybersecurity experts warn that such tactics often serve as gateways for identity theft or fraudulent “charitable” solicitations.
Duterte urged Filipinos to exercise vigilance and verify the authenticity of any page claiming to represent her or the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
While no specific legal filings against operators of these fake accounts have been disclosed, authorities are reportedly intensifying coordination with social media platforms to dismantle these networks.