Taguiwalo to Duterte: NPA never got 4Ps funds

MANILA, Philippines — Former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo Tuesday denied insinuations that she channeled government funds for the conditional cash transfer program to members of the New People’s Army.

 

“For the record and for the president's own awareness, not a single peso of the 4Ps program passed through my hands,” she said in a statement, referring to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

 

“The program funds are directly coursed through the Landbank and its conduits who then make direct payout to the Pantawid beneficiaries. These transactions are recorded and [the] Commission on Audit regularly audits this program,” she added.

 

Taguiwalo was responding to the remarks made by President Rodrigo Duterte regarding her rejection as DSWD secretary by the Commission on Appointments.

 

READ: 2 more Cabinet members on the way out?

 

The president said on Monday that there were suspicions that funds under the conditional cash transfer program were transferred to the communist rebels during the tenure of Taguiwalo, who was recommended to the post by leftist groups.

 

Duterte later clarified that he never accused the former social welfare chief of diverting funds, but there are reports about the matter.

 

In her statement, Taguiwalo urged Duterte not to legitimize baseless accusations against her.

 

“I have tried my best to ensure that the department fulfills its mandate of protecting and promoting the rights of the poor and to shield it from becoming an instrument of corruption and patronage,” she said.

 

“I have done my best as a member of the president's Cabinet and his government and served the people with humility and full transparency. The least I asked of him is to not legitimize baseless accusations against me,” added the former secretary.

 

READ: DSWD says goodbye to 'Manay' Judy Taguiwalo

 

Taguiwalo said no new beneficiaries were added to the 4Ps list except the families of soldiers killed in action or those who have been wounded in action in compliance with Duterte’s order.

 

“Had the president's allies questioned me regarding this issue during the CA hearings—or even during the congressional deliberations on the 2018 budget—I would have given them answers that are easily verifiable,” she said.

 

“When I first arrived in the DSWD, among my first declarations and actions were to say that the 4Ps program would not be expanding. This means that the 4.4 million beneficiary-households of the program will not increase. These members are from the Listahanan of DSWD based on a nationwide assessment of the poor. The list was already in place when I became secretary,” added Taguiwalo.

 

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Taguiwalo earlier said she believes the rejection of her appointment was due to her stand against lawmakers’ request to lodge funds in the DSWD.

 

“Within and outside the department, we stood up and said that public funds will be used for the public. It is difficult because it has been ingrained, not just today but even before in previous administrations, that the DSWD is being used as milking cow of politicians,” said Taguiwalo during her farewell ceremony last week.

 

“During my oath-taking, I said serve the people honestly and with compassion. In the process, the powers that be—honorable women and men—will reject you, will demonize you,” she added.

 

READ: Taguiwalo: Why, CA?

 

In the said speech, Taguiwalo said she felt the president lost faith in her despite her commitment to pursue his directive of ensuring a responsive and corruption-free DSWD.

 

“Mr. President, I kept faith with you. I am disappointed because I don’t think you kept faith with me in the end,” she said.

 

“I asked him, Mr. President will there be pork barrel (funds)? He said none. I repeatedly asked him (and he said the same thing). So I kept my faith with him,” she added in Filipino.

 

Taguiwalo said she has submitted a report to Duterte on the supposed irregularities at the agency and that she is waiting for concrete actions on how these will be addressed by the administration.

 

READ: Taguiwalo: I want to know why they rejected me