Lawyer Elmer Galicia said the local government had no time to validate more beneficiaries so they started giving part of the cash assistance from the national government.
“So idi-distribute na po namin ‘yung SAP habang ginagawa po namin ‘yung listahan ng mga tao na sunod na bibigyan ,” he added. “[Sa] SAP list, ‘yun po [ay] head of the family [lang]… Hindi pa po kasama ‘yung mga members of the family, ganoon po ‘yun .” The beneficiaries were also asked to sign a waiver stating they have no complaints about the money they get or its process of distribution.
Galicia also said city officials, including Mayor Arthur Robes, are already considering removing the controversial waiver as part of cash distribution process. But for now “it will continue,” but it is “not required.”