15 more cases readied vs village officials in cash aid anomalies, 93 others under probe

MANILA - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday said it was preparing at least 15 more cases against village officials as the investigation into alleged anomalies in the distribution of cash aid under the government’s social amelioration program (SAP) continues.

“Mayroon pa po tayong 15 kasong inihahanda na rin at mayroon pa po tayong under investigation na 93,” said DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya.

(We are preparing 15 more cases and there are 93 more [officials] under investigation.)

During the Laging Handa virtual press briefing, Malaya said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police to handle cases of barangay officials involved in SAP anomalies.
 
“Sa huling tala ng ating kapulisan, umabot na sa hihigit 400 ng ating mga kababayan na pumunta sa mga police station at nagsampa ng reklamo laban sa barangay officials na sangkot sa katiwaliaan,” Malaya said.

(Per our latest count, over 400 people have filed complaints against barangay officials linked to corruption.)

Just this week, police filed criminal charges against 42 barangay officials for splitting or collecting kickbacks from cash aid distributed to poor families.
 
“Kami po ay natutuwa dito sa naging aksiyon ng CIDG dahil nakapagsampa na po ng kaso sa iba-ibang prosecutor's office sa buong bansa,” he said.

(We are happy with the action of the CIDG because cases have been filed in various prosecutor's offices across the country.) 

• 42 brgy. officials na sangkot sa anomalya sa SAP, nasampahan na ng reklamo

Malaya, meanwhile, believes that the number of village officials to be charge will still increase. 

Government had allocated over P200 billion to give P5,000 to P8,000 in aid for two months to poor Filipinos who lost livelihood because of the coronavirus pandemic.