The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has found substantial evidence against 301 barangay officials who were investigated for their alleged involvement in cash aid anomalies under the social amelioration program (SAP), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) revealed Wednesday.
DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said that this came about after the CIDG completed its investigation and case-build up on SAP-related complaints.
Malaya vowed that the DILG and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will continue to relentlessly pursue the cases against corrupt barangay and LGU officials “until everyone of them is put behind bars.”
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año gave strict orders to the PNP to ensure that cases are filed against unscrupulous and dishonest government men and their cohorts to make the public aware that corruption has no place in the administration.
Malaya said that the 301 barangay officials facing criminal cases as of June 2 is just the latest figure reported to the DILG, “hence, people should expect the filing of more criminal cases in the coming days while 76 more are under case buildup’’.
“A total of 381 complainants went to the PNP-CIDG and its regional field units to give statements regarding the corrupt practices of their barangay officials in the SAP distribution,’’ Malaya said.
Based on the latest report of the PNP-CIDG, 57 punong barangays (village chiefs) and 57 barangay kagawads (village councilors) comprise a huge chunk of those currently facing criminal cases.
Malaya said that barangay secretaries, health workers, treasurers, SK chairman and even officials and employees of the LGUs have also been charged with criminal cases.
He said 25 civilian co-conspirators were included in the cases.
He said the 301 barangay officials were charged with violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices, RA 11469 known as the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, and RA 11332 or Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases.
Malaya said that as the second tranche of SAP financial assistance is set to be distributed to the poorest of the poor, the DILG together with the PNP will continue to accept complaints and investigate these reports. (Chito Chavez)