DOLE mulls raps vs. abusers of TUPAD program; labor group wants fund audit

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday said it is eyeing to file complaints against those involved in the anomalies in the department's aid for displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers in Quezon City.

DOLE earlier halted the disbursement of cash aid in districts of Quezon City after some workers complained that they have been receiving P2,000 when they should be getting P7,500 salary from working for 14 days. The rest of the P5,000 salary were given to the anomalous "coordinators." 

In a DOLE online press conference, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said filing cases will be a preventive measure against abusers of the TUPAD program.

"The most preventive measure for filing cases against those who abuse this program (TUPAD). Hopefully 'yung iniwan kong imbestigador ng NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) ay mag-gather ng enough evidence (Hopefully, NBI investigators will gather enough evidence) against the perpetrators of abuse of the program," he said.

Bello added that they are also eyeing to file qualified theft and estafa cases against the perpetrators. They are also looking into filing graft charges against those involved in the irregularities of TUPAD implementation.

Apart from the NBI, Bello said DOLE also tapped the  Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) to help them investigate the irregularities in TUPAD.

Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, in another statement, also sought an audit into the disbursement of the TUPAD funds as they welcomed DOLE's move to probe the controversies in the program.

"Nagkaisa calls on DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello to report the implementation of this program to the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) and let trade unions be involved in the audit and in overseeing in the disbursement of TUPAD funds," the coalition said.

Further, Nagkaisa also claimed that TUPAD funds disbursement  "coincided with the distribution of campaign materials for a presidential candidate favored by the administration."

If there is corruption in TUPAD, it means the government failed in its pandemic response, Nagkaisa added.

"Nagkaisa! has been calling for #AyudangSapatParaSaLahat in the face of continuing lockdowns as government insists on a military solution to an otherwise health, economic and jobs crises," it also said.—LDF, GMA News