Pacquiao seeks probe of missing P10.4-B aid

Boxing champ and Senator Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao on Thursday sought an investigation of missing cash aid funds worth P10.4 billion allegedly due to corruption. 

The lawmaker filed Resolution 779 directing a Senate committee to probe the missing coronavirus funds allegedly released by the Social Welfare department for distribution through an electric wallet. 

Mr. Pacquiao questioned the agency’s deal with electronic money issuer Starpay Corp., noting that more than a million beneficiaries failed to get their financial assistance. 

Citing government records, Mr. Pacquiao said only half-a-million out of 1.8 million beneficiaries had managed to download the Starpay app.

“This means around 1.3 million projected beneficiaries were unable to download the said e-wallet application and therefore could not have electronically received through Starpay the subsidy amounting to Php10.4 billion earmarked for them,” he said. 

Mr. Pacquiao cited a need to look into the anomaly and “untangle the web of corruption” involving the government and Starpay. 

Starpay last week said it had liquidated the funds given to it and refunded P8.239 billion for unserved beneficiaries. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza