BUSINESSMEN, beware!

UNSCRUPULOUS people are taking advantage of the current Dagupan Bangus Festival to solicit money from local businessmen for their own personal benefit.

This was disclosed during a press conference called by Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, executive chairperson of the Bangus Festival and Councilor Alfie Fernandez, executive vice chair person.

Both officials said they have not sent out any solicitation letter to any businessman or person in Dagupan City as they have enough event sponsors already.

In this year’s bangus festival, the committee under Fernandez has taken extreme pride at saying the sponsors are the ones going to the executive committee for a chance to be included in the events and not the other way around.

Councilor Fernandez said he was surprised when a local businessman handed him an envelope containing cash in response to a purported solicitation letter sent by the former.

The businessman, who Fernandez declined to identify yet, did not give money outright to the fund solicitors but instead decided to hand over his contribution to the councilor himself.

The councilor denied sending any solicitation letter to anybody.
Councilor Fernandez and Vice Mayor Fernandez sought the help of the Dagupan police to investigate the matter and arrest the fund solicitors.

Both officials hinted that the fund solicitors might be the same ones who victimized local businessmen in previous editions of the Bangus Festival in order to earn money for themselves.