Senate panel starts probe into ‘ayuda scam’

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, presides over the probe that started on Tuesday, Janu 23, 2024, into a fraudulent scheme allegedly duped more than 60 residents in Davao del Norte and seven residents in Davao de Oro out of their money. (Photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs started on Tuesday its probe into a fraudulent scheme in Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur, wherein kickbacks were allegedly being taken from subsidies meant for beneficiaries of a government aid program.

The investigation started based on a letter that Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said he received from Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib who alleged that there were over 60 individuals in Davao del Norte and seven in Davao de Oro who claimed to have been victimized by what they called “ayuda scam.”

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Jubahib said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) was used to “pool money” for certain candidates of the recently concluded barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Beneficiaries who were meant to receive P5,000 allegedly only received P1,000, with the rest being “forcibly taken” from them.

“In light of these allegations and the sheer weight of the possible corruption that underpins them, we admit that this is a major concern that our government should deeply look into,” dela Rosa said in his opening statement.

“We should ask: Why would we even let it happen? How could we let them happen? Is it also happening in other regions?” he added.

In the course of the hearing, a witness who identified herself as Myla claimed she received P10,000 on Oct. 29, 2023, for educational assistance but was forced to turn over P9,000 to an unidentified person inside a room in a function hall behind the municipal office of Carmen, Davao del Norte.

Another witness who went by the name Angeline also shared having a similar experience of receiving only P1,000, instead of the full P10,000.

For her part, Carmen Mayor Leony Bahague denied knowledge of the incident.

“I only learned about that incident just now. As far as I can recall, I didn’t receive any texts or complaints during those days,” Bahague said.

Meanwhile, Jubahib claimed that the distribution of AICS occurred illegally during an election ban in the town of Asuncion on Oct. 28, 2023.

Candidates participating in barangay and Sangguniang Sabataan elections, backed by Vice Gov. Carlo “Oyo” Uy were reportedly present, along with his staff members.

But Uy, who was also present in the meeting, denied being present in such payouts.

“I was not there during those said payouts, Your Honor. I vehemently deny [it], Your Honor,” Uy said at the hearing.

However, a witness who introduced herself as Mon-mon, a former staff member of Uy, admitted in the hearing that she was directly involved in deducting AICS and even Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) payouts for local beneficiaries.

She said she was tasked to deduct P4,000 from each beneficiary’s P5,000 payout before turning it over to another staff member of Uy.

Another witness, who introduced himself as Charlie Estember, also claiming to be a former staff member of Uy, said he presented fake IDs to claim payouts from the DOLE government internship program in remittance centers and remitted the money to Uy’s staff member when Uy was still a candidate.

But Uy also denied these allegations, saying:  “I categorically deny all the allegations being said. I am not yet a public official at that time. And how can I have access to all those funds?”

Estember said, however, that while Uy’s father was already serving as a vice governor then.

Meanwhile, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III urged the panel to grant legislative immunity to Estember and other witnesses — unless they are proven to have been lying. Dela Rosa granted the immunity.

For his part, the chief of the Davao Region Police Regional Office, Brig. Gen. Alden Delvo, made an assurance that the witnesses would have police protection. He added that his office would hold its own probe into the matter.

He also vowed that the investigation would be “non-partisan,” assuring both the witnesses and the involved local officials that it would be a fair investigation.

Another hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30, with more individuals allegedly involved in the scheme invited.