JV Ejercito tells Francis Zamora: ‘Tayo na lang mag-away’

TUPAD CASH AID ISSUE

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Thursday called on Mayor Francis Zamora not to involve the people of San Juan City in their families’ political rift, following the former’s claims of alleged illegal disbursements of cash assistance to local government officials.

In a Kapihan forum, Ejercito said that should the Senate Blue Ribbon committee proceed with the investigation on the cash aid scam in San Juan, he would invite all the local officials involved to attend the hearing and shed light on the allegations.

The lawmaker revealed during a privilege speech on Wednesday that the scheme was made through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), wherein cash aid was allegedly taken from beneficiaries and given to the mayor and other local officials.

Zamora earlier stressed that his conscience was clear and that he would face the issue. He also explained that local government units had no control over the disbursements under the TUPAD program.

The Estradas and the Zamoras are known political rivals in San Juan City.

Ejercito, son of former President and ex-San Juan mayor Joseph Estrada, said that Zamora should face him directly and no longer include their constituents in their families’ political affairs. The senator also said that his revelation of the alleged scam was not made out of political vendetta.

“Maganda magkaharap harap tayo. Ang apela ko lang kay Mayor Zamora, wala nang threat sa ngayon, ako nasa Senado na, ang mommy ko retired na… Ang apela ko lang sana kami na lang mag-bangayan sa pulitika,” he said.

(We should face each other. There is no threat to Mayor Zamora at the moment because I’m already in the Senate and my mother is retired… My only appeal is that we should just limit our political rift to ourselves.)

“Kawawa ang tao eh. ‘Yun ang hindi ko talaga matiis dahil every time na magsasalita ako, ang binabawian naman ang mga tao, ‘yung maliliit,” he added.

(I pity the people. I can’t stand that whenever I speak, the people are the ones getting affected.)

GMA News Online sought Zamora’s comment anew regarding the matter and will update this story once he responds.

Further, Ejercito called on DOLE and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to no longer tag along politicians in the distribution of cash assistance to beneficiaries as it is only being used for “patronage politics.”

He said that both agencies should improve their modes of aid distribution as using cash could be prone to temptation.

“Kung pwede, take the politicians out of it. Ang hirap kasi kapag na-involve ang mga pulitiko o political leaders… it’s being used for patronage politics. Ayun nga ang pinakamasarap sa pulitiko eh, namimigay ka ng assistance, ng tulong na hindi mo pera, pogi ka,” Ejercito said, admitting that he himself is guilty of the act.

(If possible, take the politicians out of it. When politicians get involved with the aid distribution, it’s being used for patronage politics. That’s the best thing for politicians, when they give help through the money that is not theirs.)

“I don’t know how, but if we really want this program to be more effective, kailangan iwasan na ito’y magamit [we should avoid this so as not to be used] for patronage politics,” the senator said.

Last Tuesday, Ejercito called the Senate’s attention to the “ayuda mentality” of Filipinos as it fostered a culture of dependency and mendicancy. — VDV, GMA Integrated News