Pandi Task Force LAG hearing starts

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PANDI, Bulacan–The local “Task Force LAG” created by the local government of Pandi, Bulacan has begun its preliminary hearing on the investigation regarding the alleged forced deduction from the financial assistance for beneficiaries under the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Livelihood Assistance Grant. (DSWD-LAG) program.

Mayor Enrico Roque, Task Force LAG’s overall chair, led the investigation into the alleged anomaly, along with concerned local government agencies including Erwin Vicente of Pandi Municipal Social Welfare and Development. Office (MSWDO) and Edna Tulabut of the DSWD Region 3 Field Office at the Las Casa Rosalina Pavilion in Barangay Poblacion of this town.

Also present at the hearing were the accused Magic 7 Cooperative led by president Nick Cabias and sectors from Senior Citizen, Pandi 4P’s members and the Pinagkaisang Lakas ng Kababaihan (PILAK) who are all among the beneficiaries of the livelihood assistance grant.

The Pandi local task force is a separate investigative team wherein the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) task force headed by Commissioner Greco Belgica earlier also created its task force that will conduct a thorough investigation into the complaints received by the PACC regarding the forced withdrawal of P5,000 from DSWD’s LAG.

The DSWD national and regional offices are the designated pay masters in the payout of the financial assistance, which was provided and used by beneficiaries affected by the pandemic as investment.

Cabias said that they did not force the beneficiaries to give P5,000 each and it was voluntary sharing for the business to be put-up on their own.

A total of 3,512 beneficiaries received the LAG in Pandi town.

The mayor called on DSWD Region 3 to submit its 30-day payout monitoring to determine if there are any anomalies or violations in the distribution guidelines.

The preliminary hearing showed that Pandi LGU was unaware of the issue and has no accountability based on Tulabut’s assumption and results of the initial investigation.

It was learned that 15 individual complainants filed a complaint to the PACC Office regarding the allegations and as a result the PACC immediately formed a task force LAG where even Mayor Roque also expressed his support to the PACC as well of creating separate investigation regarding the complaint.

Kaisa ako ng PACC sa imbestigasyon sa anomalya na sinasabi ng complainants. We are more than willing to immediately conduct an independent investigation or joint investigation with the PACC’s task force to finally shed light on the issue,” said Roque.

(PHOTO CREDIT: Eloi Samonte)

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