MANILA, (PNA) –Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Tuesday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate reports that some local executives in Bohol have been hoarding relief goods delivered by the government for distribution to quake victims.
Roxas, who is also vice chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), also directed Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, director of the Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7), to help ensure that all relief goods delivered to municipal officials would reach residents displaced by the quake.
The DILG chief stressed that relief goods delivered by the national and provincial government to earthquake-stricken towns must be distributed to the victims and should not be hoarded by local officials.
”It is not right to hoard to the offices the relief goods delivered by the national and local government. If this is really happening, those responsible should be made responsible for relief hoarding and must be sanctioned,” said Roxas.
Roxas issued the order after the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)reported to him that some residents displaced by the quake in Bohol have not received relief goods allegedly due to hoarding by municipal and barangay officials.
”I instructed all chiefs of police in Bohol to help in monitoring the delivery of relief goods. We must ensure that government assistance will reach the farthest residents affected by the quake,” said Roxas.
Earlier, Roxas warned officials from “politicizing” the distribution of relief goods by choosing on who will be given assistance.
The DILG chief stressed that all affected residents of Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor and Negrois Occidental should be given relief goods.
Roxas vowed that the national government is ready to exercise its supervisory powers against local officials found choosing who to help and hoarding relief goods.
Last Oct. 15, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Central Visayas Region, particularly the provinces of Bohol and Cebu, resulting in the death of least 190 people and collapsed centuries-old churches.