DILG Probes Manila SK's Thailand 'Junket'

The Department of the Interior and Local Government will investigate the trip of Manila Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders to Bangkok, Thailand, which netizens criticized as a junket using public funds, the DILG announced.

- By EMMANUEL TUPAS and GHIO ONG

In ordering a probe, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said he wants to know if government funds were used in the travel of the youth leaders.

"We will investigate what is behind this," Remulla said.

The three-day trip was exposed yesterday after SK Federation president, Councilor Juliana Ibay, posted on Facebook photographs of their travel and visits to tourism sites in Thailand.

A user of online forum portal Reddit posted photos from Ibay's Facebook page that showed some SK leaders riding boats and elephants.

Although the Facebook post is no longer accessible, Ibay had said that the SK officials visited the Damnoen Saduak floating market in Bangkok as well as the Chang Puak Camp nearby for elephant rides and feeding.