Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño bared on Thursday the nefarious acts committed by rogue barangay chairmen in the distribution of the
subsidy under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
Describing them as villainous and wicked stunts, Diño said that it is exasperating to the highest degree to discover that errant barangay officials demand a share of the subsidy given to the poor people.
Based on the reports received by the DILG, Diño scored the corrupt barangay chairman for asking P1,000 or in some cases half of the amount the SAP recipients get.
The said barangay officials claim that the amount would be used for lawful barangay expenses which Diño insisted is illegal.
Being a barangay chairman in Quezon City for 13 years, Diño said it is next to impossible for him to be hoodwinked by the unscrupulous barangay officials.
Diño branded as unimaginable the deceitful practice of rogue barangay officials at this time of emergency crisis.
During the first few weeks of the quarantine period, Diño said that the DILG received reports that SAP forms and quarantine passes were sold; relatives, supporters and other unqualified residents were included in the list of beneficiaries and in “unimaginable instances’’ the names of the barangay chairman and other officials were in the said roster.
Diño guaranteed that the law will catch up on the crooks of the barangays, saying that details are currently being collated to establish air-tight cases against them.
The DILG has already issued more than 100 show-cause orders to the
barangay chairman and officials in Metro Manila and the agency is waiting for their response.
In the name of fairness, Diño assured the concerned barangay officials that due process will be applied.
Diño encouraged the public to report their legitimate complaints on the malpractices of the untrustworthy barangay officials.
Diño said the guilty parties will be charged for violation of Republic Act (RA) 11469 otherwise known as the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act
which gives the President additional power to issue policies to combat all COVID-19 concerns. (Chito A. Chavez)