Sue Sereno | Posted on June 3, 2020, at 12:41 a.m.
A barangay captain and two more individuals in Bohol province were among those charged by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) for graft and corruption after their alleged involvement in anomalies with the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
Police Maj. Ronald Allan Tolosa, deputy chief of CIDG-7, did not divulge yet the names of the said village chief and the two individuals.
They were among the 57 individuals from the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu that are now facing violations of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Medical Standards in relation the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
Of the number, there were 12 barangays captains, four barangay councilors, one barangay secretary, seven barangay health workers, three social workers, five coordinators, and five enumerators or those tasked to distribute the SAP forms.
“We receieved numerous complaints against these people. Mostly ang mga reklamo favoritism, relatives sa mga officials, and dili beneficiary sa SAP nakadawat,” said Tolosa.
There were also 20 individuals who are facing charges for perjury after receiving the cash aid but turned out to be unqualified as SAP beneficiary.
“While these unqualified recipients were charged for perjury. Bisan mga unqualified nakadawat sila sa cash aid maybe because of favoritism,” added Tolosa.
He added that there are still 19 individuals whose cases are yet to be filed while there are another 11 individuals who are still under investigation for their alleged involvement in SAP distribution anomalies.
SAP is a one-time cash assistance program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that aims to help the identified 18 million poor families all over the country.
In Central Visayas, each qualified family received P6,000 cash aid.
