GRAFT investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman will review the implementation of the multi-billion pesos cash assistance program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for displaced workers citing reports of irregularities in fund releases.
In a statement sent to reporters, the anti-corruption body said the investigation was not prompted by any complaint but will be conducted motu proprio.
Under Section 15 of RA 6770 or the Ombudsman Charter, the agency has the power to “investigate and prosecute on its own” any act by a public official that appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient.
It said the office was made aware of reports regarding alleged anomalies relative to the distribution of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) funds, particularly in two areas in Luzon.
Under the program, emergency employment is given to displaced workers, the unemployed, and seasonal workers, for a minimum of 10 days but not exceeding 30 days, depending on the nature of the job.
Ramped up in 2020, TUPAD is the flagship project of the government aimed to assist workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, the fact-finding investigation will center on the following issues: implementation of the emergency employment program in Quezon City, illegal collection of processing fees from the wages of aid recipients, government officials who took advantage of the TUPAD program, and suspension of the TUPAD program in a district in Palawan.
It said there were information that some TUPAD beneficiaries in Quezon City did not receive the amount due them in full after being charged illegal deductions.
The deducted money was reportedly “funneled to congressional staff members or barangay officials.”
Ombudsman Samuel Martires stressed the importance of an in-depth investigation on the alleged anomalies since these were committed during a pandemic.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello has earlier ordered the suspension of the program in Quezon City after a number of beneficiaries said they were given only P370 each while the staff of a congressman reportedly took P5,000.
Bello said workers in Metro Manila were supposed to receive P5,370 for 10 days of work.
Labor spokesman Rolly Francia welcomed the Ombudsman probe and expressed hope it would result to holding liable erring public officials.
“With this investigation by the Ombudsman, it is a good move, of course, to pin down, if ever there are public officials involved,” said Francia.
“The Ombudsman is on the right track. That’s the track of the Ombudsman, to look into the possible complicity of some people in government,” he added.
Francia noted Bello has also already sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation in investigating reported TUPAD irregularities. — With Gerard Naval
