The Archdiocese of Manila has warned the faithful against a person who is soliciting donations for a gift for Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle who was recently appointed to a Vatican post.
Father Reginald Malicdem, chancellor of the archdiocese, issued the warning after they received information that an unknown individual is using his name to ask for donations supposedly for a gift to be given to the cardinal.
“This unknown person is asking for donations for a gift (a crosier or pastoral staff) that will be given as ‘pabaon’ for the cardinal,” he said.
Malicdem said those who received the text message were asked to deposit their donations to the Banco de Oro account of a certain Fr. Allen Albert T. Lagura as well as send a copy of the deposit slip at [email protected] email.
According to Malicdem, Lagura does not belong to the Archdiocese of Manila and was also not listed in the Catholic Directory of the Philippines.
The email address given, he said also does not belong to the Manila Cathedral where he is the current rector.
Malicdem also clarified that there is no Farewell Mass and Testimonial Dinner scheduled for the cardinal on Sunday, January 5, at the Manila Cathedral as claimed by the individual.
“We wish to warn our faithful against this fraud,” he said.
The priest asked those who received a similar text message to report it to the Manila Cathedral and the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Manila. (Leslie Ann G. Aquino)
