ILOILO CITY — A program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is in question after an alleged aide of Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda here was caught in an buy-bust operation last week.
BARONDA (FB)
Several issues arose following the arrest of Pearl Pudadera Hugo, who was listed as a grantee of DOLE’s Government Internship Program (GIP) and was detailed to work in the office of Baronda.
Among them was how Hugo was able to qualify as avgrantee when she’s already overage.
Based on DOLE’s requirement, the grantee must only be between 18 to 30-years- old. But Hugo is already 34.
The grantee is only supposed to be for indigent individuals without work experience. A GIP grantee can work for three or six months.
Baronda only issued a statement that Hugo would be removed from the GIP.
Based on police records, Hugo was also arrested for a drug-related case in 2022. She was released when she entered a plea bargain but was arrested again last Nov. 13 here.
DOLE-6 Regional Director Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr. was sought for comment but has yet to respond as of posting time.