Department of Social Welfare and Development  (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo took issue with a story in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) which came out today, Sunday, February 26. In a report titled “Tens of thousands of Duterte supporters gather in Rizal Park” , it was stated that there were those who attended the rally were “forced”  to attend because “their attendance was a prerequisite to the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program.”

“If the implication is that the DSWD forced the beneficiaries of the   4Ps program to attend the rally in support of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte yesterday, we categorically deny it. Under my watch and upon the express instructions of the president himself, the programs of the DSWD will never be used to campaign for or against any political agenda. Our beneficiaries are free to choose their political leanings with no danger to their benefits from any of the DSWD’s programs. We will never blackmail the beneficiaries  of 4Ps or any other DSWD promotive program and force them  to attend or boycott any political activity,” she said.

Sec. Taguiwalo said, however, if there have been DSWD officials or staff who told beneficiaries that their 4Ps benefits will be withheld if they do not attend a pro-Duterte activity, they will be investigated.

“We will not tolerate this kind of behavior. Government services should never be utilized to benefit any political agenda; they should be used only to help the poor and assist them in their time of need. If you need to force people, buy their loyalty or force them to give support for any agenda, then that same agenda is not really deserving of public support,” she said.#