MANILA, Philippines - Women's group Gabriela on Monday called on President Benigno Aquino III to replace Secretary Dinky Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for allegedly being "anti-poor."
Gabriela secretary general Joms Salvador said the DSWD head must have genuine concern for the poor and empathy for the victims of calamities to be able to effectively perform the duties of the government agency.
Salvador, however, noted that Soliman lacks all of these qualities to effectively run the DSWD.
Members of Gabriela and the Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns stormed the DSWD main office in Quezon City to protest reports that the agency brought street families living along the route of Pope Francis to a resort in Nasugbu, Batangas to hide them from the visiting Pontiff.
"From victims of [typhoon] Pablo to victims of [supertyphoon] Yolanda and now the street families of Manila, she had only shown disdain for the poor and the needy. Her middle name should have been 'Matapobre'."
"Her utter lack of compassion is unbelievable. That she continues to be the secretary of the DSWD defies logic," Salvador added.
Soliman outright denied allegations that she hid the homeless families and street children living along the papal route.
Soliman said the homeless families were brought to the Batangas resort during the papal visit so that they would "not be vulnerable to the influx of people coming to witness the Pope."