Lacson says letter alleges finance irregularities in DSWD regional office

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday brought up an alleged payroll irregularity in an office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

During the Senate deliberation on the proposed budget for the DSWD, Lacson said his office obtained a copy of a letter from the former president of the Social Welfare Employees Association of the Philippines, which stated alleged payroll finance irregularities in the DSWD Region XI.

Lacson said that according to the letter, employees from the DSWD Region XI were complaining that they did not receive their travel allowances and travel expense vouchers through their Landbank accounts.

The senator said more or less P1 million was allotted for the payment of the vouchers but that the amount was "unlawfully deposited" to a certain administrative assistant who was assigned to prepare the payroll.

He said charges were not filed against the employee.

"They just allowed him to finish his contract until December 2020 and did not renew it afterwards," Lacson said, adding that no action has been taken into the incident as of this date.

"This complaint has also been elevated to [DSWD Secretary Rolando] Bautista but no investigation has been conducted until now; may we hear from the DSWD?" Lacson said.

Senator Imee Marcos, sponsor of the DSWD budget, said an action has already been taken into the incident.

"An investigation is being undertaken by a fact-finding committee as well as a separate investigation with Landbank has already begun," she said.

Lacson then pointed out that there should already be progress in the probe given that the incident happened last year. He added that the case should already be before the Office of the Ombudsman.

"We should expect that some progress of the investigation has already been accomplished. So, what has been accomplished so far? Isang taon na po ito [It has been one year]," he said.

Marcos said at present the findings of the probe are still inconclusive: "There was no sufficient evidence of the said P1 million transfer so they are now enjoining the Landbank to undertake the investigation."

She also said the DSWD already contacted the complainant so that the office could get more records and data on the matter.

Lacson, for his part, said he would wait for the progress of the investigation. — BM, GMA News