301 barangay execs facing criminal raps over alleged cash aid anomalies -DILG

A total of 301 barangay officials are now facing criminal complaints due to alleged irregularities in the distribution of the cash aid from the Social Amelioration Program, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Wednesday.

"Hindi po hihinto ang DILG at ang PNP sa paghabol sa mga kurakot na barangay, LGU officials, at personnel na ito," DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a press statement.

"Secretary (Eduardo) Año has personally directed the PNP to ensure that cases are filed para maparusahan ang mga ito sapagkat talaga namang nakakagalit na sa panahon ng krisis kung kailan kailangang kailangan ng ating mga kababayan ng tulong ay nagagawa pa nilang manloko ng mga kabarangay nila,” he added.

According to Malaya, law enforcers are conducting case build-up for 76 more barangay officials.

As of latest data, Malaya said the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group had received a total of 381 complaints regarding the supposed corrupt practices of barangay officials.

The big chunk of the barangay officials facing criminal complaints are barangay chairpersons and kagawads. Malaya said there are also barangay secretaries, health workers, treasurers, SK chairman, and even officials and employees of localities who were slapped with complaints.

The complaints filed are for alleged violations of Republic Act 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.

The DILG continues to urge the public to report anomalies in the SAP aid distribution as the agency also prepares for handling the second tranche to beneficiaries this month.—AOL, GMA News