The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday said close to 400 barangay and local government officials are facing criminal charges for anomalies in the distribution of cash aid for families whose livelihoods were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apart from this, a total of 663 individuals have been subjected to investigation by the police, including 267 elected barangay and local government officials.
"The rest, 396, are other government employees or civilian accomplices of those elected local officials," said DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año in a statement.
Año said of the total 663 individuals, the DILG has filed criminal cases against 397.
He said more cases are expected to be filed against corrupt barangay officials in the next few days as the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) is now conducting case build-up and investigation on 67 cases.
“Marami pang kasunod ito. Ang datos na ito ay mula April 1 hanggang June 16 pa lamang kaya doon sa mga gumawa ng kalokohan noong unang pamimigay ng SAP, sinasabi ko sa inyo na hindi kayo makakalusot,” he said.
In a public briefing, DILG Usec. Jonathan Malaya said the department has been responding on complaints regarding the distribution of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) cash assistance.
The DILG said the charges were filed before various prosecutor's office of the Department of Justice. He also said the DILG already issued show cause orders to the concerned officials.
Aside from these, Malaya said the DILG can also file complaints against the officials in question before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The SAP program aims to distribute aid of up to P16, 000 to affected families nationwide for two months with a budget of over P200 billion. --KBK, GMA News
