CAGAYAN de Oro City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a will launch an investigation after receiving reports that some of the protesters calling for the mayor's ouster are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Sabuga-a said he was, however, not surprised by the rallies against City Mayor Oscar Moreno, pointing out that mounting protests is the campaign strategy of the mayor's political opponents.
But even then, Sabuga-a warned barangay officials not to politicize the government's anti-poverty program.
"Kining uban nga mga barangay officials, dili na unta nila gamiton ang mga tao for their own interests, they should not use the poor for their political gains," Sabuga-a said.
"We are still getting the report, we already asked the names and other information because this is illegal," he added.
About 100 residents gathered last week to call for the ouster of Mayor Oscar Moreno.
The participants came from the different barangays in the city and named their group Batakang Pangmasang Kagay-anon.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD has earlier relaunched its "anti-epal" campaign, which aims to protect the government’s conditional cash transfer program from being used by national and local candidates for their political gains.
The DSWD reminds 4Ps beneficiaries not to believe threats that they will be delisted if they refuse to attend political gatherings. It says a beneficiary can only be removed from the program if he or she fails to comply with the health and education conditions as well as the monthly Family Development Sessions set by the government.