Barbers seeks charges vs politicians advertising name in 'Odette' relief packages
Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Ace Barbers on Monday, Dec. 27, called on various national government agencies to file charges against politicians who will be found guilty of putting their names or pictures in packaging of relief goods being given to victims of Typhoon "Odette."
Barbers said he wants the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the reports that are now on social media as such "politicking" activity adds "delay in distribution of much-needed aid."
Barbers represents one of the districts of Surigao del Norte province, which was hardly-hit by "Odette."

Asked what charge he wants filed against such politicians, Barbers' office quoted him as saying: "'Yung charges, bahala na ang DILG at PACC kung ano ang dapat i-charge (Let DILG and PACC decide what to charge) once the info has been verified."
"Mainland Surigao needs more relief goods. Heavily damage din ang mainland, hindi lang Siargao (The mainland Surigao is also heavily-damaged, not only the Siargao Island)," he said
While he thanked donors from the public and private sectors, Barbers said "this is not the time to advance political interest.
"Let us put the interest of people above all else and put order in the distribution system. In our Asian neighbors, people line up and wait. No names or pictures of politicians appear on the boxes and bags of relief goods," the lawmaker said.
Barbers said that political candidates "must emulate these disciplined practices and set good examples to our constituents."