Sen. Imee Marcos (File photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Imee Marcos prefers a separate investigation into a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) cash aid program that she said “magically” appeared in the 2024 budget.
Marcos herself brought up the P26.7 billion funding for the Ayuda sa Kapos sa Kita Program (AKAP) during the Senate electoral reforms committee hearing , which she heads.
The panel has been investigating the corruption allegations surrounding the latest push for Charter change through a people’s initiative (PI).
But Marcos believes that AKAP’s supposed involvement in the signature drive warrants a separate inquiry.
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“Tingnan natin. It has to take a different form kasi lihis na sya dun sa saklaw ng PI pero kailangan siguro pag usapan baka naman mabigyan na tayo ng linaw ni Secretary Gatchalian,” the senator initially said in an interview on Wednesday.
(Let’s see. It has to take a different form because it has veered away from the scope of the PI, but maybe we should discuss it to see if Secretary Gatchalian can provide us with clarity)
She was referring to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
“Pero ang pagkaalam ko talagang hindi alam ng DSWD. Kailanman hindi lumabas sa anumang subcommittee, plenary o iba pang debate,” Marcos went on, still referring to the cash aid program of the agency.
(But from what I know, the DSWD doesn’t know anything about it. It has never come up in any subcommittee, plenary, or other debates)
Asked later if the issue should be probed separately from the PI controversy, the senator gave a categorical answer.
“Yes, hiwalay na kasi talagang lihis na sya dun sa paksa ng PI,” Marcos said.
(Yes, separate because it has really veered off the topic of PI)
She said she also wanted to focus first on the signature drive issue so they could come up with new legislation on the proper conduct of the PI.