TUPAD scam: Ex-QC lawmaker faces graft case

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed a complaint for graft against former Quezon City representative Precious Hipolito-Castelo, two officials of the Department of Labor and Employment, and five others over their alleged involvement in the anomalous implementation of the DOLE’s cash-for-work program Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).

The respondents were allegedly involved in the anomalous disbursement of funds amounting to P56,640,612 for the TUPAD program in Quezon City’s District 2, according to the 24-page complaint filed before the ombudsman on Nov. 7.

Facing graft charges are Castelo, DOLE National Capital Region director Sarah Buena Mirasol and Quezon City field office director Joel Petaca.

Also charged were TUPAD “coordinators” Jacquelyn Sales, Rosalie Buena, Margie Varon, Elizabeth Martinez and Norie Valerio.

The respondents are also facing administrative charges of grave misconduct, gross negligence and conduct prejudicial to public interest.

In a radio interview yesterday, NBI spokesperson Gisele Garcia-Dumlao confirmed the filing of the graft complaint against the respondents over the TUPAD program.

She said the scheme involved the TUPAD beneficiaries getting paid only P1,000 without doing any work and returning the remaining P6,000 to the “coordinators.”

The NBI said the respondents caused injury to the government because the funds were paid to the beneficiaries who were not qualified for DOLE’s emergency employment program for workers displaced by the pandemic.

At least 300 witnesses have executed sworn statements before the ombudsman.

The NBI conducted a probe into the anomaly based on a tip provided by former labor secretary Silvestre Bello III.

In a statement, Castelo, who is the wife of former Quezon City congressman Winnie Castelo, denied the allegations, saying the NBI probe only showed “the absence of credible and non-politically motivated evidence to establish wrongdoing by our office.”