DSWD asked to cooperate with PNP
THE Senate Committee on Public Order AND DANGEROUS DRUGS ASKED OFfiCIALS of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to cooperate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in unmasking the identities of the individuals behind the alleged “Ayuda scam” in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro.
A former employee of Davao del Norte Vice Gov. De Carlo “Oyo” Uy, known only as Mon, admitted deducting huge amounts from the payout of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) during a Senate inquiry on Tuesday, January 23.
Mon said she turned over the money to the staff of Oyo and that she decided to attend the Senate hearing after receiving threats on her mobile phone.
Ayuda (aid) has become synonymous with cash assistance distributed by the government to those financially disadvantaged. It has gained prominence in the last three years as it was the means of survival of many Filipinos during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, chairman of the committee, said such dole-out mechanisms amounting to millions of pesos of government funds, though with the good intention of rescuing a person in financial distress, can become a venue for corruption.
During the hearing, Dela Rosa shared that on Nov. 13, 2023, his office received a letter from Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib requesting an investigation as it was discovered that there were over sixty individuals from Davao del Norte and seven from Davao de Oro who had been allegedly victimized by the scam.
Dela Rosa said the governor mentioned in his letter that the qualified beneficiaries were allegedly informed of a scheduled AICS payout as long as they bring the necessary documents.
Dela Rosa said many of the beneficiaries had an idea of how much they were to receive. They were then instructed to show up at the venue for distribution to each receive a certain amount of money and made to sign documents that stated the amount. However, they were led to a separate room where the grant would be forcibly taken from them, and were only allowed to take home P1,000, only 20 percent of the original amount of P5,000.
Meanwhile in Tuesday’s hearing, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd said the impression that the scam is merely a political issue in Davao del Norte is no longer true following the evidence and testimonies of the witnesses.
“The mission of this committee is to crack down on the group that has taken advantage of the government programs such as the Government Internship Program (GIP) and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation. … This committee, with the help of the minority group, will get to the bottom of this,” Pimentel said. “For me, this is no longer Davao del Norte politics, we need to find out the syndicate operating behind this,” he added.
Pimentel said that a volunteer witness identified only as Charlie be granted immunity if the latter fully cooperates with the committee in identifying the identities of the persons behind a syndicate operating the scheme not only in Davao areas but also in other parts of the country.
Pimentel’s motion was approved as long as Charlie tells the truth to the committee.
Similar immunity was also given to other witnesses presented by Governor Jubahib before the panel.
For his part, Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito Estrada expressed confidence that the inquiry into the scam in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro by the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs could help introduce solutions to combat fraudulent schemes targeting the poorest of the poor Filipinos.
“I believe that the committee will also hold those behind the scam accountable,” Estrada said.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa stressed that while the national government is doing its best to do everything in its power to extend help to the less fortunate, it seems that there are enterprising persons who are stealing even the meager help given to those who need it the most.
The senator remarked in the hearing they’re committed to doing all that they can in aid of legislation to get to the bottom of the issue. Mainly, to know the following:
– Whether there is indeed a scam, a scheme, or an illegal mechanism in the distribution of financial assistance implemented by DSWD and other government agencies in the Davao Region or any other region in the Philippines; and
– Whether the government agencies are capable of, or if their efforts are adequate in preventing such schemes.
Lastly, the committee seeks policy recommendations from the resource persons present to ensure that there will be no scam or any other similar fraudulent mechanisms that would tend to disrupt the peace and order of our communities.