PD 1564 mandates that anyone seeking to solicit or receive contributions for charitable or public welfare purposes must obtain a permit from DSWD.
A February 2025 Facebook post from Byron Garcia, brother of Governor Garcia, exposed allegations that SSFI had accepted a P1 million donation from the Philippine Navy without permits from DSWD.
Catalan defended SSFI against allegations of improper solicitation, emphasizing that any alleged violations occurred during the emergency response to Typhoon Odette in December 2021.
Aside from the DSWD Central Office, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 has also launched its own fact-finding investigation.
Baricuatro has described the investigations as a “political persecution.”
Warning
Lucero said the criminal complaint against SSFI should serve as a warning to other social welfare and development agencies to refrain from engaging in public solicitations without the necessary permits.
“They will face the full force of the law if they continue with this illegal practice,” she said.
Megan Manahan of the DSWD’s Standards Bureau said her office had received reports indicating that SSFI had been involved in public solicitations for several years without a valid permit.
“Considering this report, we proceeded with the case build-up with our Legal Service and we are now in the process of filing administrative cases against the Foundation,” Manahan said.
In response, Baricuatro released a statement on Facebook disputing the allegations. She claimed the foundation has been compliant and had received a license following a review of past operations.
“I feel sorry for DSWD Region 7 and the regional director because they are actually good people, and we have been very compliant. We were even given a license, and part of that process involved reviewing our past operations and records,” Baricuatro said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Baricuatro questioned why the DSWD 7 is focusing on the foundation’s activities during Typhoon Odette in 2021, when many civic groups mobilized relief efforts.
“We will stand our ground and fight for the rights on the importance and relevance of NGOs (nongovernment organizations) in nation building,” she said.
On Monday, April 7, Baricuatro did not attend a scheduled appearance before the NBI 7, citing “last-minute advice” from her legal counsel. / CDF