*By HANNAH NICOL
* The Malabon City government on Monday, June 26, warned the public against individuals who sell, purchase, or pawn “Malabon Ahon Blue Cards,” which were originally given to the residents for free for them to access various services in the city. The Malabon Ahon Blue Card is a program launched by the city government in December 2022 to ensure that Malabon residents affected by the Covid-19 pandemic were given the assistance they need. Registered cardholders are entitled to receive grocery packs and other benefits such as free healthcare, medicines, discounts, and food subsidy. The city government conducted the registration and distribution of the cards for the families/beneficiaries earlier this year. It said that the sale of the blue cards is illegal and those who sold and pawned their cards will be apprehended. It added that residents who were proven to have sold or pawned their "Malabon Blue Ahon Card" may be charged with estafa and for violation of Republic Act 8484 (Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998) and Republic Act 11449 (An Act Providing for Additional Prohibitions to and Increasing Penalties for Violations of Republic Act No. 8484, otherwise known as the "Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998”) Those who were caught may face up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to P500,000, the city government said. “Ang mga taong nag-aalok ng pera kapalit ng inyong Malabon Ahon Blue Card ay nagnanais lang makuha ang mga benepisyo na inyo pang matatanggap (People who offer money in exchange for your Malabon Ahon Blue Card only want to get the benefits that you were supposed to receive) ,” the city government said. “Ang pagiging benepisyaryo rito [Malabon Ahon Bleu Card] ay personal lamang sa taong nakasaad ang pangalan sa card na ito (Being a beneficiary of this [Malabon Ahon Bleu Card] is intended only for the person whose name is indicated on this card),” it added.