LOS ANGELES ? Senator Manny Pacquiao has joined the call for the conduct of a Senate inquiry to unveil the reported irregularities in the disbursement of Yolanda funds by the previous Aquino administration.
?The Senate should conduct a probe to ferret out the truth. This should not be construed as plain and simple muckraking or political persecution. Those who were involved must be punished if proven guilty of mishandling the funds,? a visibly dismayed Pacquiao said.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo revealed on Monday that there were around 200,000 beneficiaries of post-Yolanda emergency shelter assistance who did not receive any financial help.
?Imagine, instead of helping, they wrought further havoc to the lives of Yolanda typhoon victims. How could they be so cruel? An investigation is but right and proper to know the truth and to hold responsible the personalities involved,? Pacquiao added.
In December 2013, Pacquiao personally visited the Yolanda-hit areas in Eastern Visayas to distribute more than P10-million worth of relief assistance.
The relief goods were transported over land by eight 10-wheeler trucks all the way from General Santos to Samar and Leyte provinces.
There, Pacquiao was appalled and moved to tears by the sheer magnitude of devastation.
Pacquiao borrowed from friends the P10-million funds used in purchasing relief goods for Yolanda victims.
It can be recalled that during those times the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) ordered a freeze on Pacquiao?s properties and bank deposits due to his pending tax case.
This, however, did not prevent him from extending help to the disaster victims.
?Corruption in the distribution of aids to calamity victims must be stopped. Biktima na nga, kinakawawa at inaabuso pa,? Pacquiao bemoaned.
Pacquiao hailed the DSWD, NDRRMC including other government agencies involved in mapping out plans to cushion the impact of super Typhoon Lawin which battered last week several places in Northern Luzon.
?The preparation and the response made by DSWD and other government agencies were commendable. You see, the number of casualties was minimal despite the fact that Typhoon Lawin was stronger and expected to be more devastating compared to Yoanda,? Pacquiao said.
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