Witch-hunting at DSWD- CAR over ‘missing millions’

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY – Top officials of the regional Cordillera office of the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development officials have reportedly embarked on a “witch-hunt” to identify sources of this paper in our banner story last week about millions of pesos allegedly being withdrawn and misused by executives of the government agency.

According to reliable sources, DSWD employees suspected to have given information to this writer about the “missing millions” are being harassed, grilled and made to confess by their department heads.

Our sources say the morale of suspected employees is now so low as they fear they could be the object of transfer or termination anytime.

For the information of the gods-that-be in DSWD, our sources are those who left the agency after they were fired or made to resign by their bosses but still maintain correspondence with their former peers.

They said the processes and procedures in the agency are not being done in a professional and competent level that department heads go off the line and become bossy. It is unfair that you vent your ire on your subordinates. You should just answer issues and not become personal.

If DSWD regional director Janet Armas doesn’t know anything about this, she should reign in her direct subordinates – meaning her department heads and those holding the money bags from harassing their subordinates. What they are doing could be against Civil Service rules and regulations.

***

I talked to Nerizza Villanueva, DSWD regional information officer last Friday and asked her if the allegations were true. She said she was drafting a letter for Yours Truly to answer the accusations. She added Armas was on leave.

***

For those who didn’t read last week’s edition, our sources said it was the practice of some DSWD officials to withdraw millions of pesos from the Landbank intended for Social Security Pension of beneficiaries and put these in their personal accounts to accumulate interest or use the money for their lending businesses.

They allegedly hold the money for at least two weeks and return these in time for audit. One top DSWD official had also reportedly withdrawn P72 million and as of press time, the amount was still with the person.

These officials could have felt bad about the article that they started to call their subordinates one by one and interrogate them if they had a hand in the “leak.” Ilocanos call it “nasilyan.”

***

In the interest of transparency so the public may know, we urge the regional DSWD to hold a press conference or a kapihan to clarify this issue and talk about its programs.

Since the regional Philippine Information Agency under its director Helen Tibaldo is holding media kapihans every week, they could ask the DSWD to be the respondents this time.

All these actually started when a DSWD finance officer reportedly absconded with more than P3 million SPF funds.

Our sources said the case was just the “tip of the iceberg,” as millions of pesos of SPF among other funds were allegedly being withdrawn from the Landbank by DSWD officials who put these in personal bank accounts to earn interest or lend these for profit.

***

Sources said the National Bureau of Investigation could also investigate this practice as this could be in violation of laws and charge those involved. They said if some officials of the DSWD were related to those of the Commission on Audit, the latter’s investigation could be muddled.

The COA was urged to conduct frequent spot auditing of the DSWD considering some in the regional office were reportedly in private money lending business.

Sources said concerned government officials should start a process in the DSWD so funds should not be held by officials or employees and beneficiaries could get these directly from the Landbank or local government unit offices as this practice breeds corruption considering this could be happening nationwide.      

The Civil Service Commission and Dept. of Interior and Local Government could also start investigations on the issue to set the matter straight. If some DSWD officials or employees are liable, then they should be meted proper sanctions.    

***

The controversy erupted when DSWD finance officer Oliver Garcia Hernandez, 22 single, of City Camp Alley Extension was charged April 28 for alleged malversation of public funds and estafa by the DSWD. Hernandez was due for inquest and an arrest warrant could be out against him in due time.

A police report said the missing money was found out by the DSWD finance department on April 20. The report said Hernandez allegedly received a total amount of P3,176,000 but failed to turn over the same to persons-in-charge for disbursement.

Villanueva sent an official statement of the regional DSWD on the matter signed by Armas. Below is the unedited statement:

“On 22 April 2016, Department of Social Welfare and Development – Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD-CAR) confirmed that a certain amount of money allotted for the Social Pension Program of the DSWD was unlawfully taken by a Finance Officer of the order to recover the amount taken and to bring the person responsible before the authorities for proper disposition of the matter. Despite what happened, the DSWD has assured and continues to assure the public that payouts will not be affected and that the necessary coordination has been carried out to ensure the release of succeeding stipends.

Per internal investigation, the DSWD determined that the amount of Four Million Eight Hundred Twenty-Six Thousand Pesos (PHP4,826,000.00) was taken from the Social Pension Fund through separate transactions. Upon coordination with the family of the respondent, the amount of One Million Pesos (PHP1,000,000.00) was recovered infact, and which has already been returned to the Department. Despite what had happened, the DSWD-CAR was still able to push through with the scheduled distribution of stipend for the Social Pensioners-proof of the Department’s assurance that our stakeholders will not be put in jeopardy by this incident.

On 28 April 2016, the DSWD-CAR initiated the appropriate criminal action before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Baguio City although as of the time of this writing the Prosecutor who is to conduct preliminary investigation has yet to be assigned by the OCP. Likewise, administrative action has already been commenced against the respondent in observance of official processes. The Department recognizes one’s right to due process at all times although as of this writing, the respondent has yet to respond to administrative notices.

As of this date, the Department intends to fully cooperate with the Office of the City Prosecutor for the Speedy and Efficient resolution of this matter. For now, the Department wishes to inform that the matter is now within the jurisdiction of the OCP of Baguio City, who has sole authority to resolve the Complaint, and that public service will continue.

With this incident, DSWD CAR to put the interests of the general public above all else, and will ensure that public service is always available. The Department has commenced a review of its internal processes and security measures to ensure that other incidents, whether similar or not, will not happen again. Provision of assistance through the Social Pension Program will continue as scheduled. DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unity.”

Approved for Release:

Janet P. Armas

OIC-Regional Director