Incoming Department of Social Welfare Secretary (DSWD) Erwin Tulfo on Monday said he will not tolerate ‘fixers’ in the DSWD who target poor families lining up for aid.
The veteran broadcaster, speaking to reporters after he met with outgoing Sec. Rolando Bautista, also said he is giving fixers until “the end of the month.”
“Come July 1, I will hunt you down. If I would have to arrest you, I will have you arrested by the PNP. You fixers outside DSWD, stop what you’re doing because I will pursue you and file charges against you, wherever you may be in the country,” Tulfo said in an ABS-CBN report.
Tulfo met with former DSWD chief Bautista and was given an overview of the projects and highlights of the achievements of the outgoing leadership, ABS-CBN reported. The broadcaster reportedly “learned a lot” in the three-hour briefing.
Tulfo, in the report, also said “his priority projects have already been started under Bautista’s watch, including the digitalization of aid distribution and purging the lists of beneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
“We need to shorten the queues and expedite the process, not just here but in other areas of the country,” he said.
It can be recalled that In 2019, Tulfo lambasted Bautista for not appearing on his show. Tulfo said the incident “has already been resolved, noting that his meeting with Bautista was cordial.”
Tulfo added that he had apologized to Bautista for what happened, to which the outgoing secretary replied, ABS-CBN reported.
Bautista did not give a statement, but the transition process will continue in the next few days.