Abellanosa accused of TUPAD profiling, vote buying
This is the response of the Department of Labor and Employment on the letter of Lawyer Ernesto Rama claiming that Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa allegedly used TUPAD for political gains. | Delta Dyrecka Letigio
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A lawyer, Ernesto Rama, has written to the Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (DOLE-7) about Cebu City South District Congressman Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa allegedly using the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program for political gains.
Rama has written to DOLE-7 alleging that the office of the congressman profiled beneficiaries, asked them to fill forms, then told them to come back to a specific time and place for a P500 cash out in the guise of downpayment from the program.
“We hereby bring to your attention the activities at Mambaling, ACT, and Guadalupe where individuals were made to fill up Beneficiary Profile forms under the guise that it is TUPAD project. But then, the individuals are told to return on a specific date, like May 3, 2022, to receive money purpotedly as down payment of their TUPAD salary,” said Rama in his letter.
The lawyer sought DOLE’s guidance as they believed the distribution of the down payment may be an act of vote-buying.
CDN Digital has reached out to the congressman for his comment on these allegations multiple times but he has yet to respond to queries.
Meanwhile, in response to Rama’s inquiry, DOLE-7 Concurrent Head, Undersecretary Victor del Rosario, said they would be validating the complaint and would look into the incident.
“Please be informed that the TUPAD program is done through direct administration of this Office. Under this mode, the implementation of said program is done directly by our Tricity office,” said Del Rosario.
Del Rosario said that based on the policy of the Department and per record of this Office the distribution of payment of TUPAD salaries is sent and released through money remittance service provider, particularly through M. Lhuillier and the Universal Storefront Services Corporation (USSC).
“It is our money remittance partners who will send a message to the beneficiaries that they can already claim their wages,” he said.
“We will also make the necessary validation of this report based on DOLE Administrative Order No. 118. series of 2021 or the Guidelines on the Disposition of Complaints Relative to the Implementation of the Department of Labor and Employment Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP),” said Del Rosario.
Based on photos sent to CDN Digital, the distribution was conducted in a gym adorned with campaign paraphernalia of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) candidates.
It must be noted that Abellanosa is not running this elections, but his son, BG, is running in his stead.
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