The executive director of Angat Buhay, a non-government organization lead by former Vice President Leni Robredo, slammed the false claims on their visit to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to extend help last Friday.
On Tuesday, Angat Buhay Executive Director Raffy Magno shared on Twitter a copy of their formal letter addressed to Secretary Erwin Tulfo, which the DSWD central office received on August 10.
"Una, mayroon kaming sulat sa DSWD na nagre-request ng meeting kasama si Sec. Tulfo para pag-usapan ang mga posibleng pagtutulungan ng DSWD at Angat Buhay. The letter was duly received by his office. Mayroon din pong malinaw na pakikipag-ugnayan sa pagitan ko at ng kanyang staff," he wrote.
[First, we sent a letter addressed to DSWD requesting for a meeting with Sec. Tulfo to dicuss possible collaboration between DSWD and Angat Buhay. The letter was duly received by his office. There is also a clear communication between me and his staff.]
Una, mayroon kaming sulat sa DSWD na nagre-request ng meeting kasama si Sec. Tulfo para pag-usapan ang mga posibleng pagtutulungan ng DSWD at Angat Buhay. The letter was duly received by his office. Mayroon din pong malinaw na pakikipag-ugnayan sa pagitan ko at ng kanyang staff. pic.twitter.com/zRN4zUPa1K
— raffy magno (@raffymagno) August 30, 2022
Magno together with Robredo visited the DSWD central office in Quezon City, where they also met with Tulfo as seen on photos shared by the latter in a Facebook post.
Robredo, likewise, dismissed the claim that she was accompanied by a photographer during her visit.
"The only photographer present was the DSWD photographer. We just shared Sec Erwin Tulfo’s Facebook post," she said.
During Robredo’s visit to DSWD, ABS-CBN news reporter Jervis Manahan was also present.
According to Manahan, they were informed by a source that Robredo would be visiting the office but not for media coverage, dismissing the claim that the Angat Buhay chair barged into the DSWD.
The courtesy call happened in the Secretary’s office on the building’s third floor,” Manahan said.
In an exclusive interview with DZRH, Tulfo also confirmed that Robredo scheduled an appointment prior to their visit.
"Nagpa-appointment po siya [para bumisita sa DSWD] at tinanggap naman po nating ang kanyang appointment as Angat Buhay representative. Alam naman ho natin na isang foundation ito," he said.
[She scheduled for an appointment to visit DSWD as Angat Buhay representative and we accepted it. We all know it is a foundation.]
"Baka nakakalimutan ng mga kababayan natin na ang mensahe ng administrasyong ito ay unity. Unite every Filipino ‘yun ang instruction sa akin ng pangulo," he added.
[People may have forgotten that the message of this administration is unity. Unite every Filipino, that is the instruction of the President.]
Fake news
The clarification comes after Twitter user @HLingayan claimed that the former VP and presidential candidate "sashayed" into the DWSD office without notice and appointment.
“Credit to @MacLopez769. Ok, so here is the supposed back story of the MADUMB visit to DSWD, as relayed by sources from DSWD mismo na super dismayed dito sa incident,” the Twitter user claimed.
"It appears that MADUMB sashayed into the DSWD unannounced and without [an] appointment!"
The online user also insinuated that Robredo barged into the office of DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo, which caught him “off guard and cornered."
She also claimed that Robredo brought with her a photographer.
