*Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD, DM
There is an old saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” In today’s digital world, however, a single photograph can sometimes be worth thousands—or even millions—of pesos to a professional scammer.
A few days ago, while waiting for a meeting to begin, I overheard a conversation that immediately caught my attention.
One gentleman confidently took out his cellphone and smiled.
“Sir, huwag ka nang mag-alala. Malakas ang koneksyon ko. Member ako ng partido. Tingnan mo ito.”
He began scrolling through dozens of photographs. There were selfies with senators, governors, mayors, cabinet secretaries, police generals, military officers, and other prominent personalities. There were pictures taken during campaign rallies, conventions, oath-taking ceremonies, and government activities. He proudly displayed himself wearing the campaign shirt of a well-known political party.
The man sitting across from him was visibly impressed.
Without asking another question, he immediately assumed that the person before him possessed extraordinary influence inside government.
As I quietly watched the conversation, one simple question entered my mind.
Kailan naging appointment paper ang selfie?
Kailan naging legal authority ang pagiging miyembro ng isang political party?
Those questions reveal one of the most dangerous trends in modern fraud.
Professional scammers have evolved.
Years ago, scammers simply fabricated stories. They pretended to know influential people, invented impressive titles, and relied on exaggerated promises. Today, that approach is no longer enough. The public has become more cautious, and technology has forced criminals to become more sophisticated.
Modern scammers no longer sell lies.
They sell credibility.
More accurately, they sell borrowed legitimacy.
Unlike ordinary fraudsters who operate through obvious deception, professional scammers understand that trust is an investment. They patiently cultivate it. They spend months, sometimes years, building an image that appears authentic before asking for anything in return.
Some become active in civic organizations.
Some volunteer during election campaigns.
Some regularly attend political conventions and government activities.
Some intentionally position themselves where photographs with elected officials become possible.
Others genuinely join political parties—not because they believe in the party’s ideology or principles, but because they understand the marketing value of political affiliation.
For them, political party membership is not an expression of political conviction.
It is an investment.
A political party becomes their brand.
Selfies become their advertisements.
Political personalities become their endorsers without even knowing it.
And eventually, all of these become their scam capital.
This is what makes modern scams significantly more dangerous than before.
Many people believe that scammers simply invent connections.
That is no longer always true.
Some professional scammers genuinely know politicians.
Some are actual members of political parties.
Some really attend government activities.
Some possess authentic photographs with cabinet secretaries, governors, mayors, legislators, police generals, military officers, and other influential personalities.
Some can even pass ordinary verification because their identities, memberships, and photographs are all real.
That is precisely why appearances have become increasingly deceptive.
The issue is no longer whether the connection is genuine.
The issue begins when that connection becomes a commodity.
When influence acquires a price tag.
That is the real red flag.
Not the selfie.
Not the political party.
Not even the relationship itself.
The money.
Personally, I have always believed that there are still many decent Filipinos who quietly help others without asking for anything in return. Some introduce people to the proper office. Some explain government procedures. Some simply share their experience so others will not be lost in bureaucracy. Others use their personal relationships only to ensure that legitimate concerns reach the proper authorities.
They do not ask for commissions.
They do not ask for “processing fees.”
They do not ask for “panglakad.”
They simply help.
That is genuine public service.
That is the Filipino spirit of bayanihan.
The problem begins the moment someone starts asking for money because of his alleged influence.
Whether he is truly connected or merely pretending becomes almost secondary.
The request for money itself becomes the warning sign.
The moment someone says,
“May processing fee.”
“May ilalabas kang pera.”
“Ako na ang bahala.”
“May regalo lang tayo sa loob.”
Or any similar statement suggesting that money is necessary because of supposed political influence, appointments, permits, contracts, or government favors, that should immediately raise serious concern.
Because influence should never become merchandise.
Whether the relationship is genuine or fabricated, it should never be commercialized.
Public office exists to serve the people.
It was never intended to become a marketplace where access is bought and sold.
Perhaps this is the most important distinction that society must now understand.
Many discussions focus only on fake influence.
I believe the deeper problem is the commercialization of influence itself.
Even if someone genuinely knows a senator, governor, mayor, cabinet secretary, or other public official, that relationship should never become an opportunity to solicit money from ordinary citizens.
The commercialization of genuine influence is just as damaging as the fabrication of influence.
Both destroy public trust.
Both weaken democratic institutions.
Both create the perception that government services are available only to those who can pay.
Unfortunately, professional scammers understand human psychology remarkably well.
They know that many people are desperate.
Parents searching for employment opportunities for their children.
Business owners waiting for permits.
Contractors hoping to secure projects.
Applicants dreaming of entering government service.
Overseas workers trying to process documents.
When hope meets impatience, deception becomes easier.
Professional scammers know that people want solutions.
So instead of selling illegal acts, they sell convenience.
Instead of selling corruption, they sell hope.
Instead of selling influence, they sell the illusion that influence can solve everything.
This is why political parties themselves can no longer remain passive observers.
When professional scammers use political party affiliation as part of their modus operandi, they are not merely stealing money from their victims.
They are stealing the credibility of the political party itself.
Every political party carries a reputation.
Its name represents principles.
Its logo symbolizes ideals.
Its members become reflections of its character.
When fraudsters misuse party affiliation to solicit money, promise appointments, or create the illusion that party membership itself grants government authority, the party becomes an unwilling victim.
Its credibility slowly erodes.
This is why political parties must become more proactive in protecting their own integrity.
This is not a call to restrict every citizen’s constitutional freedom to join a political party.
Rather, it is a call for political organizations to strengthen ethical formation, membership orientation, accountability systems, and disciplinary mechanisms.
A political party is not an ordinary social club.
It is an institution that seeks to govern the nation.
Membership therefore carries responsibilities.
Hindi sapat na gustong sumali ang isang tao.
Dapat ding itanong ng partido:
Naniniwala ba siya sa prinsipyo ng partido?
Handa ba siyang magsilbi sa bayan?
O ginagamit lamang niya ang pangalan ng partido bilang personal leverage?
Sadly, there are individuals who join political parties not because they believe in public service.
Some join hoping to build business connections.
Some join expecting future government appointments.
Others simply want to become associated with powerful personalities.
And unfortunately, some join because they see political party affiliation as future scam capital.
Political parties must never allow their names to become marketing tools for professional scammers.
Their greatest asset is not the number of members they recruit.
Their greatest asset is the integrity of those members.
Ultimately, this discussion is no longer about selfies.
It is no longer about Facebook.
It is no longer even about political parties.
It is about protecting public trust.
Professional scammers have learned to borrow legitimacy from institutions they do not represent.
They borrow the reputation of political parties.
They borrow the credibility of politicians.
They borrow the trust that society gives to public institutions.
Then they monetize all of it.
That is why the greatest weapon of today’s professional scammers is not technology.
It is not artificial intelligence.
It is not social media.
Their greatest weapon is their ability to transform borrowed legitimacy into personal profit.
Perhaps it is finally time for every Filipino to remember one simple truth.
A selfie is not an appointment paper.
A campaign shirt is not a government identification card.
Political party affiliation is not legal authority.
And the moment someone begins placing a price on political influence—whether that influence is real or merely manufactured—that is no longer public service.
It is no longer political participation.
It is the commercialization of trust.
And once trust becomes a commodity, democracy itself becomes the biggest victim.
#DJOT
________________________________________________________________
*About the author:
