DSWD wants names of personnel

The Department of Social Welfare and Development- 7 wants the names of its personnel who were allegedly involved in partisan political activities as reported by the Cebu-based campaign holders of Davao City mayor and presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte.

The local camp earlier reported the alleged illegal activities, particularly on partisan political campaigning, of some of the agency's city and municipal links in Cebu Province of DSWD's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, or 4Ps.

Through a written communication, the regional agency responded to the March 16 written complaint by lawyer Rex Fernandez, the provincial head of Duterte Cebu Campaign.

"We would like (to) assure you that DSWD-7 is committed to adhere to the Omnibus Election Code as well as to the Department's own guidelines," read the letter from DSWD-7, dated March 24, 2016.

Fernandez claimed that these links are "directly" engaged in electioneering or partisan political activities, as reported by 4Ps beneficiaries to his campaign field organizers, adding that these acts by the city and municipal link officers are "illegal" and are "not acceptable," as stipulated in Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.

However, for the agency "to carry out the necessary action," they requested for a list of names of those involved.

"Kindly forward to this office the names of the City and Municipal Links that you are complaining of and documentary evidences to support your complaint. Once we get these basic documents, we will update you of the progress of the case until its closure," said Macapobre.

Fernandez, in his letter, also mentioned the present administration's involvement in the issue.

"They, through threats that the monthly cash benefits they are getting from 4Ps will be lost and will be stopped when LP presidential candidate Roxas would be defeated, during informal and formal meetings, are engaging in partisan political activity and electioneering which are criminal acts," said Fernandez.

The group demanded for DSWD- 7 officials to stop these illegal practices.

"If we do not hear from you within five days, we will file a formal complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against these erring ML's and CL's, which will include you. We have names," Fernandez warned. —

May B. Miasco/LGA