Eatery owner selling relief rice faces raps

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will file a criminal case against an eatery owner in Tacloban City who was caught selling rice sacks intended for Super typhoon Yolanda victims.

Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman on Monday said Marchita Ygrubay, 52, owner of Sola Eatery, is liable for violation of the Anti-Fencing Law after she was caught selling 17 25-kilogram rice sacks labeled “DSWD Relief Supplies, Not for Sale.”

“May this serve as a stern warning to individuals who continue with their unscrupulous ways,” said Soliman, adding that the DSWD will conduct an investigation to include others selling relief goods.

Soliman said DSWD Field Office VIII (Eastern Visayas) Regional Director Nestor Ramos discovered the anomaly when he went to have dinner at the eatery on April 3.

Upon learning of the irregularity, Soliman instructed Ramos to contact the local police.

The next morning, a team headed by DSWD Assistant Regional Directors Restituto Macuto and Virginia Idano went to the eatery on Salazar Street.

With the assistance of the city police led by Supt. Domingo Cabillan, the relief commodities were confiscated from Ygrubay.

According to Ramos, Ygrubay said she did not know that the goods were not supposed to be sold.

She said she was just helping the sellers who were Yolanda survivors from the districts of Pampango and Magallanes. She refused to name them.