MANILA – Twenty-three barangay officials are facing criminal over the alleged irregularities in the cash aid distribution under the social amelioration program (SAP).
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has already filed the charges against these barangay officials before the Prosecutor’s Office of the Department of Justice.
He said 12 complaints for alleged violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 11469 of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act have been lodged against these local officials. Four more will be filed in the coming days.
“Sunud-sunod na ang pagsampa ng kaso ng PNP-CIDG laban sa mga tiwaling opisyal ng barangay at sa kanilang mga kasabwat sa mga anomalya sa pagbibigay ng SAP,” Año said.
Most of the anomalies, according to Año, were committed by village chiefs, councilors, treasurers, secretaries, employees, purok leaders, and even social workers.
“Puspusan na rin ang imbestigasyon at case buildup para masigurong makakalaboso ang mga walanghiyang tao na ito na nakuha pang manggantso sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan,” he said.
Año recently transferred the investigation of graft and corrupt practices against barangay officials from the DILG field offices to the PNP-CIDG to expedite the investigation and the filing of criminal charges./PN
