I HAVE long been opposed to the idea of “ayuda,” be it in the form of 4Ps, AICS, Tupad, AKAP and all other forms as they only institutionalize the culture of mendicancy. I believe the government could simply engage in localized projects like infrastructure (building and road construction, repairs, etc.) Rat the barangay level, utilize the unemployed, lend small capital for those who would want to capitalize on the government-initiated pump-priming activities. In other words, teach them how to fish, don’t just feed them.
In so doing, the government will be spending the billions of pesos allotted for these ayuda for infrastructure projects in line with government programs.
But aside from institutionalizing the mendicant culture, the worst thing that could happen to the delivery of these ayudas is they are being used for political agenda.
Remember the case of former Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, who ran and won in the Albay gubernatorial race in 2022 only to be disqualified by the Comelec after he was found to have approved, in his capacity as Legazpi City mayor, cash assistance for tricycle drivers and senior citizens in March and April 2022, barely a month before the 2022 national and local elections.
Which brings us to the case of a barangay captain in Barangay Cagsiay 1 in the municipality of Mauban, Quezon.
But unlike the case of Rosal, barangay chairman Danilo Pastrana did not distribute ayuda as directed by the incumbent mayor. In fact, sources claim he was supporting the political rival of the sitting mayor. And that’s maybe where his problem started.
In a case filed by a resident of Barangay Cagsiay, chairman Pastrana is alleged to have implemented a financial assistance to residents that was arbitrary, politically tainted and fiscally irregular.
And worse, the distribution was done with the help of his wife, Carolina Pastrana, who happens to be the current OIC regional director at the Department of Public Works and Highways, Regional Office 4A. In fact, the complainant claims it was Carolina who had laid down the framework of the ayuda — the manner by which the beneficiaries are chosen and the amount they are to receive — that is dependent on if the residents were supporting the candidacy of mayoralty candidate Dingdong Llamas.
While no written grounds were issued, the complainant alleges that no due process was observed when beneficiaries were selected, and some removed afterwards. Also, the complainant alleged that during payout activities, statements were made explicitly linking the financial assistance to a political figure, thereby converting a public welfare mechanism into an instrument of partisan influence.
The complainant quotes Carolina as saying, “O ganito ha? Kayo ay magpapa-approve pa din sa DSWD. I-explain ko sa inyo ang ano kasi ipinasama ko na talaga 'yung hindi mga na-approve. 'Yun bang inabot ng cutoff na, inabot ng election ban kayo. Approve ng DSWD na? Approved? Approved? Approved? Hindi approve. Kanina pa ko naghahanap ng mga, 'yun bang hindi inabot ng hindi approved ay ito'y aking ang laki ng hirap nito sa'kin. Diyos ko po Panginoon ko. Kahit hindi ka approve sakin ay approve.”
In essence, the complainant is claiming Carolina could overturn the DSWD decision disqualifying those who applied after the election ban took effect.
The complainant added that Carolina insisted that barangay residents should also receive ayuda not only from the barangay but also from the power plant which the town of Mauban hosts.
“Ngayon po ayokong pumayag na ang matatanggap lang ninyo ay dito sa barangay, dapat mayroon din kasi nakikinabang ang power plant, nagbibigay din ang power plant ng pera 'ron sa munisipyo. Ay, ngayon po ako po ay nakipag-usap sa isa sa tumatakbo natin na dati nating mayor na si DL (Dingdong Llamas) na siyang idadaing ko,” Carolina was quoted saying.
And if indeed there is truth to the complaint that the ayuda was being distributed at the height of the campaign period last year, aimed at benefiting a particular candidate, then both husband and wife are in hot water. Barangay and government officials are barred from engaging in campaigning for any political candidates.
The same applies to Jocelyn Rodil, the present department head of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office in Mauban who was said to have conducted the case studies for the beneficiaries.
All three have been charged with violation of Republic Act 3019 Sec. 3 (e); Malversation of Public Funds; Usurpation of Official Function; violation of Republic Act 6713 Sec. 4 (a) and (d); Grave Misconduct; conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service; and violation of the Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular 03, s. 2025.
In response, the respondents attempted to reduce the controversy to technical objections, but failed to categorically deny the occurrence of the statements captured in the recording, nor did they specifically refute the material utterances linking the subsidy to a political candidate.
And that’s the danger of the ayuda. They have become some sort of political weapon.
