Sen. Marcos Says Soliman Can't Wash Her Hands In The Dumping Of Spoiled Relief Goods

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. today said Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman cannot wash her hands of her responsibility for the wastage of food packs and sacks of rice discovered dumped in Dagami, Leyte.

"Soliman had admitted the rice and food packs were from the DSWD warehouses but clarified that they were intended to be distributed to those affected by typhoon Ruby and typhoon Glenda last year and not for survivors of super-typhoon Yolanda."

According to Soliman the DSWD is investigating why the relief goods were not given out.

"Secretary Soliman cannot simply toss the responsibility for this mess to her underlings; she is the one ultimately responsible," Marcos asserted.

He cited that last year the Commission on Audit tagged DWSD for the spoilage of an estimated P2.8 million-worth of relief goods intended for distribution to Yolanda survivors in 2013.

"The DSWD claimed it has learned its lesson and even acquired a mechanized repacking system and yet this unconscionable wastage of relief goods continues to happen," Marcos deplored.

"According to Soliman the goods buried in the area are no longer fit for human consumption. Initial reports estimates that around 500 sacks of spoiled rice were disposed in a 10-feet wide, 15-feet deep hole dug in Dagami."

"Can you imagine how many typhoon victims the DSWD could have helped with such amount of relief goods? Surely, those responsible for this are unfit as public servants. Someone should be held accountable," Marcos concluded.