The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Friday, July 16, that it is not worried about Senator Manny Pacquiao’s filing of a resolution seeking to look into the supposed questionable disbursement of P10.4 billion worth of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) funds.
DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao reiterated that the department is ready to face any probe to shed light on Pacquiao’s allegations.
“As we have earlier said, the Department is ready to face any inquiry about the allegations of SMP (Senator Manny Pacquiao) and that we are ready to present documents that will clarify the matters he raised,” she told the Manila Bulletin in a Viber message.
“We maintain that there are no “missing” funds,” she added.
Related stories: https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/03/willing-to-present-evidence-documents-dswd-ready-to-face-new-round-of-sap-probe/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/04/walang-nawawala-dswd-assures-sap-funds-all-accounted-for/
Pacquiao filed on July 15 Senate Resolution No. 779, reminding the government to serve the public with honesty and integrity as provided under Article 2, Section 27 of the 1987 Constitution.
Under the resolution, the boxing icon questioned the government’s use of e-wallet Starpay for the second tranche distribution of SAP.
“There is an urgent need to look into this anomaly to untangle the web of corruption involving DSWD and Starpay which has robbed our people of economic resources and denuded the government of its basic capacity to provide a lifeline to the vulnerable segment of the society that has been hit the hardest by the current pandemic,” the two-page resolution read.