DSWD, DILG, Comelec in Zamboanga Peninsula to pols: Keep off gov’t programs

ZAMBOANGA CITY––Three government agencies in Zamboanga Peninsula had forged a memorandum of agreement to protect government programs from being used to further politicians bids for elective office on May 9.

These were the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the region.

“We are joining forces, forging this partnership to protect our programs from (the) influence of partisan politics. We want to save our programs from being used by unscrupulous politicians,” said Riduan Hadjimuddin, DSWD-9 assistant regional director for administration.

Hadjimuddin added that they wanted to protect the beneficiaries from politicians taking advantage of their vulnerabilities during the electoral season.

Although there was no incident yet, lawyer Sittie Raifah Pamaloy-Hassan, the DSWD-9 regional director, said political interests could exploit the conditional cash transfer assistance known as 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program).

“So, a memorandum was issued … to all (leaders of) local government units, prohibiting them from joining or participating in the release of this assistance to our beneficiaries,” Pamaloy-Hassan said.

If there are violations, these would be reported directly to the Ombudsman and the Comelec, she added.

Paisal Abutazil, DILG regional director, admitted that they had received reports of some candidates exploiting government programs for political gains.

“We cannot name names, but it’s in Zamboanga City, and it’s being
investigated,” Abutazil said.

Even the simple giving of goods to voters attending political rallies is considered vote-buying, reminded lawyer Monalisa Mamukid, Comelec-9 regional director.

“For us, giving t-shirts to voters is considered vote-buying, but ordinary people don’t see it that way. That is why we conduct voters education to inform the public that some actions, even the presentation of colors, could be considered election offenses,” Mamukid said.

Less than 20 days before the May 9 elections, Abutazil admitted that “it’s quite late, but we need the help of the citizens to drum up this call, this appeal.”

He said they need the public’s cooperation in reporting election offenses committed by incumbent officials.

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