Former QC congresswoman charged with TUPAD-related graft

MANILA, Philippines – Former Quezon City 2nd District representative Precious Hipolito-Castelo is facing criminal charges for alleged anomalous handling of cash assistance for government workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to documents signed by graft investigation and prosecution officers, Castelo and her co-accused allegedly pocketed “a substantial portion” of the P1.09 million from the labor department’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

Others indicted were Castelo’s political affairs officer Maria Theresa Encallado, and volunteers and coordinators Elizabeth Martinez, Norie Valerio, Leonora Bernardo, Anabelle Ocfemia, Edilbert Valerio, Emma Agraan, Eliseo Hermoso, Jacquelyn Sales, and Rosalie Buena.

Prosecutors said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) released the TUPAD funds between November 2020 and September 2021, but the cash aid never reached its intended beneficiaries in the Batasan Hills, Commonwealth, and Holy Spirit barangays in Quezon City.

“[Defendants] using deceit, false pretense, or fraudulent act, did then and there unlawfully and feloniously defraud the government by submitting or causing the submission of falsified documents….when in truth, accused knew fully well that the beneficiaries did not render any service and instead, accused collected for themselves a substantial portion of the wages from each beneficiary,” prosecutors said.

Castelo and her co-accused allegedly fabricated letters of intent, work programs, lists of beneficiaries, and daily time records.

Bail bonds were set at P90,000 for the graft case, and P36,000 for the estafa charge.

National Bureau of Investigation assistant director Jose Doloiras, and Ombudsman lawyers Rose Vallejo and Jinky Anama were listed as potential witnesses for the prosecution. – Rappler.com