Solon on Army chief's looming appointment to DSWD: Social welfare will become social warfare

A party-list lawmaker on Friday said the looming appointment of Army chief Lieutenant General Rolando Bautista as Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary would only worsen militarization of the bureaucracy and social service delivery.

"With a retiring Army chief and ground commander of the destruction of Marawi as DSWD Secretary, social welfare will become social warfare," said Gabriela party-list Representative Emmi de Jesus said in a statement.

"Delivery of social protection programs will be further militarized, and the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program of 4Ps will be further aligned to counterinsurgency operations that terrorize poor communities," she added.

Gabriela Rep. @emmidejesus on Lt.Gen Rolando Bautista as DSWD secretary: Social welfare will become social warfare. @dzbb pic.twitter.com/AGy6YwvteN

— Rowena L. Salvacion (@wengsalvacion) October 4, 2018

Bautista's looming appointment to the DSWD was announced by President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday during a dinner for the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Incorporated.

Duterte earlier offered the National Food Authority (NFA) administrator post to Bautista, who is set to retire on October 15.

According to De Jesus, Bautista's looming appointment will have impacts on social work, poverty-reduction programs, and even on accreditation of non-government organizations.

She added that this move "further exposes Duterte's penchant for strongman rule and alarmingly points to a de facto military junta."  —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News