MANILA – A barangay captain in Negros Occidental was charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the distribution of the cash assistance under the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Eduardo Año identified the barangay captain as Maria Luz Leal Ferrer of Barangay 8, Isabela, Negros Occidental.
Ferrer was also charged with violation of Article 171 (which prohibits falsification of documents) of the Revised Penal Code together with Mae Fajardo, the social welfare officer of Isabela, said Año.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier expressed anger over alleged corruption in SAP distribution. He offered P30,000 for any information that could lead to the discovery of anomalies in the program.
The charges against Ferrer and Fajardo stemmed from a text message sent by complaining concerned citizen, according to the DILG secretary.
Investigation showed that a 13-year-old grandchild and a well-off relative of Ferrer were released with cash assistance, said Año.
Local residents Wizza Leal and Emmanuel Orsolon were also charged over entries in the SAP form, the Secretary added.
Ferrer, Fajardo, Leal and Orsolon could not be reached for comment as of this writing.
Nationwide, according to Año, the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) are set to investigate 183 barangay officials for alleged anomalies in the distribution of the SAP cash assistance,
“Hindi titigil ang ating kapulisan sa pagdakip sa mga mandarambong na mga barangay officials na siyang talagang virus ng lipunan,” Año said in a statement./PN
