Taguiwalo to Duterte: Don’t legitimize baseless issues against me

FOMER Social Welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo responded to President Rodrigo Duterte's revelation that she reportedly used her office's fund to finance the New People's Army (NPA).

"For the record and for the President's own awareness, not a single peso of the 4Ps program passed through my hands. The program funds are directly coursed through the LandBank and its conduits who then make direct payout to the Pantawid beneficiaries," Taguiwalo clarified.

Duterte on Monday said he received “reports” that Taguiwalo “might have used” Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) funds, specifically the funds of the conditional cash transfer program or Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps), for NPA’s benefit.

"She was suspected by, hindi naman lahat, but people...na the bulk of the money went to, ditong Pantawid, naibigay doon sa mga — ako sinabi ko, naibigay sa mga NPA," Duterte was quoted as saying.

But Taguiwalo said it is “clear” that the insinuations by Duterte are made to justify her rejection by the Commission on Appointments.

"Had the president's allies questioned me regarding this issue...I would have given them answers that are easily verifiable,” she said.

Taguiwalo said that upon her arrival at the DSWD, she even stopped the enrolment of more families into the 4Ps program, with a few exceptions.

“When I first arrived in the DSWD, among my first declarations and actions were to say that the 4Ps program would not be expanding...If there have been any additional members, they are the families of soldiers killed in action or those who have been wounded in action who have children aged 0 to 18. This is in compliance with the President's order," she said.

Taguiwalo was one of the left-leaning secretaries that Duterte tapped to join his Cabinet. However, her bid to be permanently appointed at the DSWD was unsuccessful, which she attributed to her opposition to “hidden pork.”

On August 16, the CA rejected the ad interim appointment of Taguiwalo.

"I have done my best as a member of the President's cabinet and his government and served the people with humility and full transparency. The least I asked of him is to not legitimize baseless accusations against me." she said. (SunStar Philippines)