Village chair in trouble over relief goods

A barangay chair has been ordered by the Special Mayor’s Reaction Team (Smart) of the Manila police to explain allegations that he has been playing favorites in the distribution of relief goods in his area.

In the April 1 letter of Smart chief Police Maj. Rosalino Ibay Jr., Barangay 251 Zone 23 chair Reynaldo Angat was informed that he was being investigated for submitting a “spurious list of names/constituents” who were supposed to get relief goods from the local government.

The letter said 29 people on the list—who had all given the same address on Almeda Street in Tondo—were listed as 29 separate families.

The address belonged to a business establishment reportedly owned by Angat while the people on the list were either his relatives or employees.

Angat was told to submit an affidavit to the Smart office to explain his side. —Nikka G. Valenzuela