In light of the huge number of people expected to troop to the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help鈥攁lso called the Redemptorist Church鈥攖o hear Mass on Christmas Day, a Church official advised the public to avoid getting duped by unscrupulous people disguising themselves as the Church鈥檚 sanctioned collectors.
According to Fr. Victorino Cueto, the Church rector, his office has been receiving reports from churchgoers that they have been hoodwinked by people making a second collection during Mass.
鈥淲e never have any second collection in Baclaran Church,鈥� Cueto said, stressing that the Church鈥檚 Mass collectors only go around to collect donations right after the homily so they will be done with their work in time for the offertory.
He said a woman, who realized she had given money to a bogus collector, went to his office one day and asked if the Church just had a second collection. She said someone had gone around collecting money before the homily.
鈥淪he only realized that she had given money to the wrong collector when our own Mass collectors came to her row after the homily,鈥� the priest said.
Unsuccessful chase
Another incident occurred during the Holy Week this year after a liturgical celebration in the evening.
It appeared that the fake collectors took advantage of the large number of churchgoers attending the event and went around soliciting donations.
鈥淲e tried to run after them but we were not successful,鈥� the priest said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we warn the public every now and then, specially before the Mass starts, to be wary of these people pretending to be collectors,鈥� Cueto said. 鈥淲e issue the warning specially this Christmas when many people are expected to attend Mass.鈥�
He appealed to those involved in the modus operandi to stop duping people of money intended for the church鈥檚 social mission apostolate.
Uniformed collectors
鈥淚 hope they respect the Church and the people鈥檚 intentions in making donations,鈥� Cueto said. 鈥淭hese innocent churchgoers want to help the Church in its programs, especially our social mission apostolate. Deception will never be justified.鈥�
To prevent churchgoers from getting deceived, the Church has issued new uniforms to its collectors鈥攖he only problem is these church collectors聽 regularly change the design of their uniforms.
The shrine鈥檚 24-hour security service has been alerted about the fraud, Cueto said.
Next year, he said, the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed in the church would be upgraded to beef up security.