Finally, Gov't will investigate Yolanda fund releases by the Aquino administration

It was in November 8, 2013 when the strongest tropical typhoon locally known as ‘Yolanda” hit Tacloban.

The previous administration that should have been at the forefront in the rehabilitation and rebuilding of all the destroyed infrastructure will now be investigated for graft and corrupt practices.

The compare and contrast made by the news channels between the rehab of Tacloban under the Aquino administration and the rehab of Marawi under the present administration has drawn direct comparison and sad to say the rehab because of Yolanda has been found very much lacking.

(photo credit to owner)

The present administration has heard the call of our fellow kababayans which have been wanting to know what happened to the utilization of the P67.1 billion.

Through the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), the probing of the Yolanda funds will be investigated thoroughly.

Based on data obtained from the Department of Budget and Management, P41.88 billion of the funds were provided by government agencies, P24.83 billion were coursed through government-owned and -controlled corporations and another P405.43 million were contributions from other Executive offices.

“I assure the public that something will happen out of this investigation. Send to us evidence of corruption and try us,” Jimenez said.

The PACC also held a closed-door meeting with key regional officials of the National Housing Authority, Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Electrification Administration and the Local Water Utilities Authority.

“We will not let our people down. The impact of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ is very significant with the loss of so many lives and billions of worth of properties,” Luna told reporters.

For purposes of informing the public, their convenience and for the sake of clarity and truthfulness, we are quoting the whole article titled “P67-B ‘Yolanda’ inquiry on“ published last April 14, 2019, Daily Tribune.

P67-B ‘Yolanda’ inquiry on

The government is probing P67.1 billion in funds released by the previous administration for the rehabilitation of areas in Eastern Visayas ravaged by super typhoon “Yolanda,” the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) said.

Based on data obtained from the Department of Budget and Management, P41.88 billion of the funds were provided by government agencies, P24.83 billion were coursed through government-owned and -controlled corporations and another P405.43 million were contributions from other Executive offices.

“We can assure the public that results will be out by October. If we will not be able to do it in six months, we will resign,” PACC chairman Dante Jimenez said after discussing the timeline with Commissioner Manuelito Luna.

President Rodrigo Duterte created the PACC in October 2017 through Executive Order 43 in a bid to rid the government of corrupt public officials.

“Yolanda” hit the country on 8 November 2013, resulting in destruction to most of central Visayas and killing more than 6,300 people and leaving more than 4.4 million people displaced and homeless.

The epicenter of destruction was in Tacloban City, the regional hub of the Eastern Visayas region, which was hit by a back-to-back storm surge resulting in most of the casualties being found in the city.

The PACC said it is in the stage of completing the fact-finding mission on the post-“Yolanda” rehabilitation which will be completed within six months.

The fact-finding process started through an inquiry involving six national government agencies tasked to carry out post-disaster recovery works.

Public help sought

“I assure the public that something will happen out of this investigation. Send to us evidence of corruption and try us,” Jimenez said.

The PACC also held a closed-door meeting with key regional officials of the National Housing Authority, Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Electrification Administration and the Local Water Utilities Authority.

“We will not let our people down. The impact of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ is very significant with the loss of so many lives and billions of worth of properties,” Luna told reporters.

The PACC will also consider findings of previous and ongoing investigations of national government agencies, such as the Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC).

The SHFC has filed cases against community mortgage program mobilizer Siony Sia, after hundreds of housing beneficiaries complained of land acquisition, non-remittance of payments and illegal collection of fees from housing recipients.

Jimenez asked “Yolanda” survivors to send post-disaster rehabilitation corruption information, photos, videos and other evidences via email at records@pacc.gov.ph.

The PACC will also send a team to gather data, make reports and send the report to the PACC en banc. The inquiry is part of PACC’s dialogues in the regions to “bring the Commission closer to the people,” according to Jimenez.

DoJ asked to review

After the Tacloban City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed two cases filed against Sia, the SHFC asked the Department of Justice to review the cases.

The SHFC filed syndicated estafa and qualified theft charges against Sia on 22 September 2018, but it was dismissed on 21 November 2018 due to lack of merit.

The SHFC filed similar charges against Sia, which stemmed from complaints from a different group of homeowners.

“Sia threatened us by filing charges against me and SHFC lawyers who came last year to gather evidence. We will not stop until justice is served. She has her legal team and millions of money, but the government has billions of money in this legal battle,” SHFC president Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling said.

Hundreds of housing beneficiaries have been complaining against Sia and her accomplices in the SHFC for overpricing of land acquisition, non-remittance of payments and illegal collection of fees from housing recipients. Cabling estimated that Sia pocketed at least P200 million from SHFC.

Money factory

Mineland Shelter Foundation, owned by Sia, also collected P180 million from a Chinese firm that supported the housing project, an estimated P45 million replacement fee from new homeowners and at least P21 million monthly amortization from families.

Sia, whose accreditation as mobilizer has been revoked by SHFC, is still collecting fees this year in connivance with some homeowner’s association officials, Cabling said.

The SHFC has been investigating seven housing sites handled by Sia. There are about 2,000 beneficiaries in these anomalous housing projects.

In an earlier interview, Sia denied that their firm has not remitted payments of recipients to SHFC.

“We have proof that their payments have been forwarded to the SHFC. We have the list of the amount they have received, but they did not reply to us,” Sia said.

Their firm has already remitted more than P10 million to SHFC last year, Sia said. They even shouldered unpaid amortization of some homeowners.

Under CMP, the SHFC buys the lot for accredited housing association members. The beneficiaries will pay SHFC in more than 20 years.

Under its loan entitlement, the SHFC raised the loan package from P165,000 to P250,000.

Of the amount, P100,000 is earmarked for lot acquisition, P30,000 for site development and P120,000 for housing materials.

The loan is payable in 25 years with a monthly amortization of P474 and at an annual interest rate of 6 percent based on the outstanding balance.

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Report from DT