OFFICIALS of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Energy (DOE) have all denied allegations of corruption.
In a Palace briefing Monday, July 5, 2021, DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista said they are ready to face any investigation and submit the necessary documents to counter the claims of Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao on alleged irregularities in the distribution of the social amelioration program (SAP) funds.
“Nais lang namin ipabatid na lahat ng pondong binigay sa financial service providers (FSPs) ay accounted for at walang mga nawawalang pondo. Lahat ng ayuda na ipinamahagi ay sinuportahan ng liquidation reports na maaaring maibahagi kung kinakailangan,” he said.
On Saturday, Pacquiao claimed that SAP funds amounting to P10.4 billion did not reach the beneficiaries. He alleged that the funds were funneled through startup e-wallet service Starpay.
Bautista said the beneficiaries claimed their SAP through conduits affiliated with Starpay.
“Nais nating banggitin na ang ibang benepisyaryo ay nakatanggap ng financial aid sa pamamagitan ng mga conduits na affiliated sa Starpay gaya ng M Lhuillier, USSC at iba pa. Katuwang ng mga FSP ang conduits sapagkat base sa datos nakita na may mga benepisyaryo na walang smartphones o may data quality issues or data connectivity concerns kaya pinadalhan ang mga beneficiaries ng reference number para ma-cash out ang kanilang ayuda sa mga conduits,” he said.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in a separate press conference, denied Pacquiao’s claim that the department purchase medicines that were almost expired.
Vergeire said they strictly follow protocols and only buy medicines that have a shelf life of 18 to 24 months. In the past year, Vergeire said the DOH was allowed to purchase medicines with 12-month shelf life because of the pandemic.
DOE Assistant Secretary Gerardo Erguiza Jr., meanwhile, lashed at Pacquiao for raising a “rehashed” issue that has already been subjected to a full congressional inquiry by the House of Representatives.
“The DOE has fully and comprehensively discussed and explained the propriety and legitimacy of Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines pursuant to Epira,” Erguiza said.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. described Pacquiao’s expose as nonsense.
“Watusi. Akala ko atom bomb, yun pala watusi. Walang kwenta, kasi puro generalized allegations, walang bill of particulars, walang specific instance, walang ebidensya, wala man lang follow-up,” he said.
Roque urged Pacquiao to provide proof to support his claims.
PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar, for his part, said they are open to any investigation which may be conducted on the procurement of body cameras.
“Kami ay naniniwala na ang PNP particular itong body worn cameras, ako po ay nakakasiguro (na walang anomaly) dahil nasubaybayan ko din ito kahit papaano mula nang ito ay isinulong ng ating dating chief PNP na ngayon ay senator, Bato dela Rosa, at nagkaroon nga tayo ng savings pa diyan na P45 million na ginamit natin sa procurement ng ibang proyekto,” he said.
“So kung sakali man at talagang meron silang mga detalye tungkol dito, we welcome and we are requesting for these details para ito ay aming maimbestigahan,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)