Tricycle driver pumanaw nang hindi natanggap ang ayuda; anak, nanawagan ng mas flexible na patakaran

• A tricycle driver died without receiving government financial aid due to hospitalization and strict payout rules
• His daughter attempted to claim the assistance with an authorization letter, but it was not accepted
• The DSWD said it cannot allow representatives to claim aid due to accountability risks for paymasters
• Authorities are reviewing the distribution system as some drivers were also left out due to list issues

A tricycle driver in Quezon City passed away without receiving financial assistance from the government after being unable to personally claim it due to hospitalization.

According to a report by GMA News, Jimmy Gariga, who had worked as a tricycle driver for 30 years and was a member of a local operators and drivers association, was among those listed as qualified beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy program.

Gariga had been going in and out of the hospital since March 2, prompting his daughter, Shikinah, to line up on Tuesday to claim the aid on his behalf.

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She said, “Yung time po na yun sabi ko, ‘Pa, may ayuda ka.’ Sabi ko, ‘kaya mo? Kaya mo mag-sign?’ Nag-sign. Nag-sign po siya for authorization. Kahit hindi niya po kaya, hindi niya magalaw, pinilit niya po.”

Despite presenting an authorization letter and a medical certificate, her request was denied.

She shared, “Nagtututuro na po kung sino po puwede kakausap sa akin. Dahil nga po, si Papa ang nasa masterlist pero ako po yung mag-sign. Bawal daw po yun… Okay lang naman po kahit hindi nakuha ni Papa yung payout. Pero sana po sa susunod, maging case-to-case basis.”

Gariga died on Thursday.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development explained that it is not authorized to release aid to representatives due to potential liability issues.

Secretary Rex Gatchalian said, “Kawawa rin naman yung tao namin. Dahil in that sense na pag nagkamali siya, may tinanggap siyang authorization because pinakita to pero in the end nag-claim yung tao, ang mananagot sa liability na yun yung paymaster… Hindi naman hindi ibibigay sa kaniya. Mag-i-schedule kami ng multiple special payouts.”

In a related development, authorities from the Bacoor Component City Police have identified the man seen in a viral video attempting to open a vehicle as Joel Viola Matados. Police said he is a resident of General Trias and may be dealing with a medical condition. His family revealed that he had left home earlier that day and appeared disoriented during the incident. Motorist Lorie Sy recounted the tense encounter, saying, “I stayed locked inside my car while he repeatedly pulled on my door handle in the middle of traffic.” Authorities are appealing to the public for any information that may help locate Matados so he can receive proper medical attention. Coordination with local health officials is ongoing to ensure he is given appropriate care once found.

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In a separate operation, agents from the National Bureau of Investigation in the CALABARZON region rescued 10 individuals from an alleged abusive situation at a resort in Laguna on February 19, 2026. The operation followed weeks of surveillance, which led to the arrest of a male suspect accused of using social media platforms to exploit victims and facilitate illegal transactions for profit. The suspect is currently detained without bail and is facing multiple charges under the Anti-Traffi*cking in Persons Act and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Authorities emphasized that the case highlights the importance of vigilance among both law enforcement and the public in protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring accountability.

Source: KAMI.com.gh