Businessman arrested in Manila for selling DSWD relief packs

• Businessman in Tondo arrested for allegedly selling DSWD relief packs meant for disaster victims
• CIDG-NCR caught him in an entrapment operation involving over ₱15.5 million worth of clothing kits
• DSWD confirmed the seized supplies were marked “Not for Sale” and intended only for calamity survivors
• Suspect claims the items were excess stocks from his company’s supply contract with the agency

A businessman in Tondo, Manila was arrested for allegedly selling non-food relief packs marked with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) seal, which were intended for disaster victims.

According to a report by John Consulta on Balitanghali Friday, the entrapment operation was conducted after authorities received information about the illegal sale of DSWD-branded supplies.

The suspect reportedly sold thousands of family clothing kits bearing the DSWD logo to an undercover agent from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR).

He was caught while counting cash inside a warehouse.

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“Umabot ‘yung negotiation namin ng more than P15.5 million for the 6,000 pieces. ‘Yung box is DSWD may Bagong Pilipinas, nakalagay din diyan ‘Not for sale.’ So nagulat kami na may ganitong pangyayari considering ‘yung nangyari sa Cebu, ngayon sa iba pang lugar na tinamaan ng bagyo, Masbate, na mayroong naibebenta na ganito,” said Lieutenant Colonel John Guiagui, chief of CIDG-NCR.

DSWD officials later inspected the seized kits, which included shirts, shorts, underwear, slippers, and towels packed in plastic boxes labeled with the agency’s logo.

“Malinaw na malinaw na nakasulat sa kahon na ito ay hindi binebenta. So this is clearly a violation. Ito po ay intended only for disaster-related or disaster-affected individuals and families and it is not for sale,” said Cris Mathay, OIC of the DSWD Disaster Response Management Bureau.

The businessman claimed he was a legitimate DSWD supplier since 2020, insisting the supplies were excess stocks.

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CIDG is conducting a deeper investigation, with possible charges under RA 10121 and Section 179 for misuse of government logos.

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In a previous report by KAMI, a magnitude 6.9 quake struck off Bogo City at 9:59 p.m., upgraded from initial 6.7, according to Phivolcs. Death toll rose to 35, with 30 in Bogo City and 5 in San Remigio, including a 10-year-old boy. Sports complex collapsed during a basketball game, killing Coast Guard and BFP members; rescuers still searching. Classes suspended and safety checks ordered, as Cebu faces power outages, communication cuts, and aftershock warnings.

In another viral local report, a 51-year-old public school teacher in Las Piñas City was stabbed multiple times by her own husband. According to the report of EJ Gomez in 'Unang Balita,' the 38-year-old suspect committed the crime inside the school's faculty room. Police authorities said the school has a security guard, but, being a familiar face in the school, the suspect managed to easily get in and out of the school. The suspect said he was there to talk to his wife and settle their misunderstanding, but unfortunately, it led to a big arguement.

Source: KAMI.com.gh