Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles today alleged that some persons who are already dead, minors, and those already living overseas are listed as beneficiaries in the latest round of the government’s cash amelioration program for areas in the so-called “NCR plus.”
Nograles said that in Barangay 44 in Pasay City, a person who has been dead since August last year, minors who are not qualified as beneficiaries, and a former house helper now living in Mindanao were among those listed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as cash aid recipients.
“My office received inquiries and reports on questionable beneficiaries. This comes as no surprise, but clearly, the DSWD and the COA should look into this,” Nograles said.
The solon also said that a person from Cainta, Rizal who now lives and works in Qatar was also listed as recipient.
Nograles said that these cases may indicate a sample of thousands more of unqualified people on the DSWD’s amelioration list.
“In that barangay in Pasay City for example, some people were surprisingly included in the new list, despite the fact that they are minors. We all know minors should not be in the list,” he stressed.
“In that same barangay, a kasambahay who had already left for Mindanao was still listed, and, in contrast, another kasambahay who is still a resident in the area had been de-listed. It is easy to suspect and surmise, but it is the duty of Government to find out why and how did this happen,” he added.
Nograles urged the DSWD and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to investigate this matter as he stressed that every penny in the P22.9 billion amelioration fund must be fully accounted for and the people who abused it must be punished.
“Ako nga na congressman may mga natatanggap akong mga information at puro documented pa. I’m sure may mga information din na dumadating sa kanila and they should act on them even without any formal complaint. President Duterte made it very clear that they should look into these allegations of misappropriations of the amelioration fund,” Nograles added.
He stressed that government officials found to be deliberately falsifying the list would face trouble with the Ombudsman. “Kung may dagdag-bawas sa listahan, dapat lalong suriin yan” he said. “I hope DSWD can defend the listing because Technical Malversation and Malversation of Public Funds is a serious crime that must be reported.”