DILG: 23 barangay officials charged for alleged SAP anomaly

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 23 barangay officials are facing criminal complaints for alleged irregularities in the distribution of cash aid under the first tranche of the government’s social amelioration program (SAP) for families hardest hit by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Monday that the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has already filed 12 criminal cases against these officials before the prosecutor’s office of the Department of Justice.

He said that four more cases will be filed in the coming days and that a case build-up is ongoing against 110 more barangay officials. He added that a total of 318 complainants have so far reported graft and corrupt practices against officials of different villages in the country.

“Nalalapit na ang pamimigay ng 2nd tranche ng SAP kaya hindi natin hahayaang makapanloko pang muli ang mga ito (The distribution of cash aid under the 2nd tranche of SAP is coming soon, which is why we cannot let these people to continue deceiving their constituents),” he said in a statement.

According to Año, most of the reports received by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the PNP on anomalies in the cash distribution involved barangay chairmen and chairwomen, as well as barangay kagawads, treasurers, secretaries, employees, purok leaders, and even social workers.

The irregularities allegedly committed by the local officials range from splitting of cash aid, falsification of the master list of beneficiaries, and taking a “cut” or “tara” from SAP beneficiaries, among others, said Jonathan Malaya, DILG Spokesperson and Undersecretary for Plans, Public Affairs, and Communications.

Cases for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act was filed by the PNP-CIDG against the accused officials.

The DILG chief recently transferred the investigation of graft and corrupt practices against barangay officials from DILG field offices to the PNP-CIDG to expedite the investigation and the filing of criminal charges.

He said, however, that barangay officials facing accusations on SAP irregularities will still be issued show-cause orders and investigated by the department for filing of administrative cases before the Office of the Ombudsman.

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