DAVAO CITY – Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte dismissed as black propaganda a notice to the public posted outside his office here that said that they have temporarily stopped medical assistance for private hospitals in this city due to lack of funding from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
REP. DUTERTE
“We apologize for any inconvenience and sadness this may cause. We will let you know if additional funds become available. Thank you very much,” said the notice written in the local dialect and circulated on Facebook and Twitter.
It also caught the attention of Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list Rep. Margarita “Migs” Nograles and debunked the information that the agency has no more funds.
“Do not fall for posts, clickbait, and misinformation. I do not know why such information is spreading and which office is spreading fake news that DSWD has no more funds,” Nograles said on her official Facebook page, with over 160 reactions, 44 shares, and 46 comments as of posting time.
She said these cause fake news and black propaganda from those with ulterior motives to slander others.
Nograles said she goes to the DSWD almost every week to help people obtain assistance. She said her office would continue releasing medical assistance even if the DSWD has no funds.
Duterte denied that the DSWD has no funds. Instead, his office lacks funding from the DSWD. He said that they only inform the people and apologized for the situation.
“I have no reason not to give what is due to the people,” Duterte said. He added that in his few years as a lawmaker here, many people had seen their efforts to assist those in need, especially during the pandemic.
He said everyone knows about their assistance, which has been more than what the current administration offers, includin personal funds.
“There is no black propaganda in that, Madam Congresswoman. You all know the situation; that isn’t fake news!” Duterte said in a local dialect.
Duterte dared Nograles to check records at the DSWD.
Referring to the congresswoman’s statement, Duterte said it is clear now that there is favoritism. He added that people’s money is being used for politics to make them look bad to the public.
He also said that if the people involved wanted to help, they could help without any political repercussions.
“Do not politicize it because the people will suffer, and the election is still far away,” Duterte said.
The lawmaker said he could not recall that his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, mistreated Nograles despite everything that happened back then. “Again, I ask that we just do our jobs for the people,” Duterte said.
Duterte encouraged the people of Davao to approach the PBA party-list’s office here for their medical and financial needs, especially since the funds of the PBA are overflowing.
“That is the people’s money, your money, so make use of it,” Duterte said, referring to Nograles’s statement that her office is always open to assist the people, even on a limited budget.
Before the notice to the public, Duterte expressed concerns about a significant portion of his district’s budget being cut in the 2024 spending plan.