FOR ALLEGED ILLEGAL SOLICITATION Foundation sued

For alleged illegal solicitation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has filed a criminal case against SimplyShare Foundation Inc. (SSFI), an organization founded by gubernatorial candidate Pamela Baricuatro.

- Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, Staff Member

In a press release posted yesterday, April 8, 2025, DSWD's Field Office-7 in Central Visayas confirmed the filing of a complaint against the foundation, accusing it of collecting cash donations without securing the required permits.

The agency cited violations of Presidential Decree 1564, or the Solicitation Permit Law, in relation to Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Under PD 1564, individuals or organizations that raise funds from the public must first obtain a solicitation permit from the DSWD. This requirement applies to a range of fundraising activities, including online donation drives, benefit concerts, door-to-door collections, and crowdfunding campaigns.

The complaint was formally filed before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office, with DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Lucero serving as the complainant.

"The DSWD's Field Office 7 (Central Visayas) filed the complaint on Tuesday (April 8) before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office against Pamela S. Baricuatro and Elisse Nicole B. Catalan in their capacity as Founder and Executive Director, respectively, of Simply Share Foundation Inc., the statement read.