Taguiwalo denies Duterte’s allegations she enrolled NPA members to 4Ps program, gave them money when she was social welfare secretary

(Eagle News)–Former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo has denied President Rodrigo Duterte’s allegations she enrolled New People’s Army members to the 4Ps program of the government.

4Ps is a poverty alleviation program that stands for the Pantawid Pamilya Pasada Program.

In a statement, Taguiwalo also denied she gave money to the NPAs.

“In fact, it was the families of soldiers killed-in-action that were enrolled in the 4Ps upon your explicit instructions,” she said.

According to Taguiwalo, the lumads also approached the Department of Social Welfare and Development for assistance “which we provided in the form of family food packs and sustainable livelihood programs.”

She said her “stint as DSWD Secretary was guided by his instructions when he met us, Cabinet members -designate, on May 31, 2016 in Davao City — to serve the people well; to provide assistance promptly; to be inclusive and to oppose corruption.”

“He (Duterte) has made these public accusations before, accusations that were never brought up during the several hearings of the Commission on Appointments on my appointment as DSWD Secretary..I wonder why I continue to be the subject of unfounded and completely false accusations by no less than the President,” she said, noting that she has been “very open and transparent during my term,” and she “assiduously and continuously reported to (Duterte) the services and activities of the department.”

“I call on the President to stop demonizing me and other upright civil servants like my fellow teachers whose only crime, if it can be considered a crime, is to exercise our democratic right to be critical of policies and programs that are anti-people and anti-poor,” she said.