The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has filed complaints against 143 barangay officials as of May 26, over mishandling of social amelioration program (SAP) cash aid distribution.
“Sa ngayon ay mayroon tayong 143 na barangay officials na sinampahan na natin ng kaso at ito ay nasa piskalya na,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said during the Laging Handa briefing.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered fiscals to give priority to the handling of the complaints, according to Año.
Año said the department remained vigilant as Malacañang had given the green light for the distribution of the SAP second tranche.
“Mayroon pa tayong pangalawang SAP na idi-distribute, kaya dapat ay magmanman tayong mabuti dito at walang anuman o sinumang government official ang maglulustay ng pera ng pamahalaan na para sa ating mga nangangailangang kababayan,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte is offering a P30,000 reward for citizens who will report local government officials who have mishandled cash aid distribution.
Año also called on citizens to report anomalous officials through DILG’s complaint center.
“Hinihimok iyong publiko na ipagbigay-alam sa atin kung mayroon silang nalalaman diyan na mga nanamantala o kaya iyong sinasabing nag-i-split ng pondo o kaya naman ay nagdadagdag ng pangalan na hindi naman dapat. Iyong miyembro ng pamilya ni kapitan bigla na lang napuntasa listahan. So, lahat ng iyan ay ating titingnan at sisiguraduhin natin na pa-file-an natin ng kaso,” Año said. John Ezekiel J. Hirro