DAR chief’s son-congressional bet faces DQ for breaching poll rules

BAGUIO CITY (March 30, 2025)— A son of DAR chief Conrado Estrella III, running for a congressional seat in the 6th district in Pangasinan, faces possible dísqualification allegedly because he had been flagrantly using government aid pay outs.



At least 35 postings allegedly found on congressional bet Gilbert Estrella’s official social media account showed that government programs such as Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), both programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), project of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) were being used in his campaign sorties.

Example captions included in the social media postings were: “AICS - TODA sa Tayug..." and "TUPAD payout...tulong na direktang napupunta sa nangangailangan." One social media post even displayed the DSWD logo.

 Several other similar links like:  AICS in Tayug; Tupad in San Nicolas; and AKAP in San Manuel showed the same.

 Former San Nicolas, Pangasinan Mayor Leoncio Saldivar also claimed over Facebook Live that Estrella had coordinated with DSWD for fund replenishment in case AKAP funds run short, stating, "... thanks to Mr. Gilbert Estrella, he has already spoken with Secretary (Rex) Gatchalian. Secretary Gatchalian said that even if the current fund runs out, he will replenish it." 

 The congressional bet also reportedly foisted influence in the immediate release of government aid in other municipalities of the 6th congressional district, including Asingan, Balungao, San Nicolas, Natividad, Rosales, Umingan, San Manuel, San Quintin, and Santa Maria towns.

Social media posts by Estrella also led to impressions that government assistance programs, via cash payouts, were his solicitation efforts.

Estrella is currently not holding any office in government.

Aside from Comelec guidelines on government aid prohibiting candidates’ presence during aid distributions. the Omnibus Election Code Section 261 (o) also prohibits using public funds or government resources for election campaigns.