By Joseph Almer Pedrajas
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso has encouraged his constituents to take to social media should they have any concerns regarding the relief packages they receive from their barangay officials.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso
(Manila City Public Information Office / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
This came after Domagoso found that some village heads are removing items from the relief packages given out by the local government to help residents affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
"Kung talagang may pang-aabuso o too much discretion ang ginagawa ng inyong barangay, sabihin nyo lang sa akin. And I hope this will be a stern warning to others... Pag kulang natanggap nyo, post it," Moreno said Saturday night in his Facebook address.
(If there is truly abuse of power or too much discretion in your village, just tell me. And I hope this will be a stern warning to others. If you receive less than what you're supposed to, post it.)
According to Domagoso, the latest batch of relief packages to be given to residents should include three kilos of rice, two cans of sardines, pasta, and spaghetti sauce.
But after complaints from several residents, the local government found that at least two barangay chairmen allegedly gave fewer items than they were supposed to.
Domagoso said they are facing police investigation.
"Bakit mo kailangan ibahin. Unfair 'yun… Hindi pwedeng sabihin ni chairman na kulang , kasi sila nagbigay ng listahan ," Domagoso said, adding there will never be a valid reason why barangay officials would need to remove some items from the package.
(Why do you have to take items from the package? That's unfair. No barangay chairman can say that the reason they are removing items is because there isn't enough to go around, when they themselves gave us the list.)
"Do not enrich ourselves in this trying times. Walang katanggap-tanggap na dahilan (There is no acceptable reason). 'Wag po ninyong ibahin . Kaunti na nga lang po ito (Don't change the items - there are few of them as it is)," he added.