Cases vs eatery owner selling relief goods being readied

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Tuesday said authorities are now preparing charges against the eatery owner in Tacloban City who was discovered selling relief goods sold to her by alleged survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman said Marchita Ygrubay, 52, will be facing violations of the Anti-Fencing Law and the NDRRMC Law.

Soliman said the local DSWD officials in Tacloban have already confiscated the 17 sacks of relief goods from Ygrubay's eatery last April 3.

"Pinanindigan ni Marchita Ygrubay na 'di nya alam na bawal magbenta ng relief goods at sabi pa n'ya na tinutulungan 'yung victims na nagbenta sa kanya nun," Soliman told a press briefing in Quezon City.

Ygrubay could be facing at least 12 years in prison if found guilty by the court, Soliman added.

Meanwhile, Soliman also reiterated that the unkempt warehouse in Barangay Caibaan, Tacloban reported by a TV network is not owned or operated by the DSWD.

She challenged the veracity of the TV report which showed a footage of a warehouse which was littered with rotten relief goods and other trash.

"Imposible na pinabayaan ng mga kasamahan at na 'di linisin ang lugar dahil 'yan ang mga una nating tinitignan," Soliman said.

She also clarified news reports that there were truckloads of rotten relief goods were disposed in Palo, Leyte.

During their investigations, Soliman said DSWD field workers found out that only 10 sacks of used clothing, some biscuits, noodles and ready- to-eat food were buried by the local government officials in the area.

"Alam namin na hindi perpekto (ang sistema) at marami pang dapat pagbuthin, pero hindi ko matatanggap na wala kaming ginagawa," Soliman said.