The House Committee on Public Accounts chaired by ABANG LINGKOD Party-list Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano, together with the Special Committee on Senior Citizens chaired by Senior Citizens Party-list Representative Rodolfo Ordanes, convened to continue the hearing on House Resolution 236 which called for an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the status and operations of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), as well as on the privilege speech of Ordanes on August 31, 2022 regarding the alleged irregularities, mismanagement and anomalies in the NCSC.
In his opening remarks, Paduano enumerated the issues based on all the discussions in the last hearing which he simplified into five topics.
These were: 1) whether NCSC Chairman Atty. Franklin Quijano, as well as the other commissioners failed to make the said commission operational within a reasonable amount of time; 2) the alleged improper appointments of regional directors around the country made by Quijano in his capacity as chairman and CEO of the NCSC; 3) the alleged solicitation and extortion activities purportedly committed by another senior citizens organization called the Senior Citizens Welfare Association of the Philippines (SCWAP); 4) the alleged failure of the NCSC to honor a presidential endorsement in the hiring of its executive director as evidenced by a paper from the Office of the President and signed by the former executive secretary; and 5) whether or not Quijano usurped the power of the entire Commission by unilaterally preparing the NCSC’s budget without consulting with the commissioners.
“Through this avenue, issues would not only be addressed but also finally put the NCSC on the right path.”
Meanwhile, Ordanes expressed optimism that the second hearing would shed light on the issues surrounding the organization and operation of the NCSC, saying that through this avenue, issues would not only be addressed but also finally put the NCSC on the right path to realize the very objectives why the commission was created.
“We hope and fight for what is right and just for the millions of our senior citizens.”
“We hope and fight for what is right and just for the millions of our senior citizens, and work to further improve the quality of life of the people who have already given their best years for this country,” Ordanes said.
Among the questions raised during the interpellation concerned the accomplishments of the commission since Quijano took office; its number of personnel complement; how the 2020 budget of P25 million was spent; and the programs and projects that would benefit senior citizens.
