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Año says 155 barangay execs referred to Ombudsman over alleged cash aid anomalies

By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA News

A total of 155 barangay captains and officials have been investigated and referred to the Office of the Ombudsman due to alleged anomalies in distributing cash aid from the Social Amelioration Program, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said.

"Ah, 155 barangay captains and officials na po 'yung aming iniimbestigahan at 'yun po ay nai-refer na namin sa Ombudsman,” Año said in a briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte aired Friday.


“Maganda po rito, marami na ang nagsasalita kasi po lahat ng mga nakatanggap ay ipinaposte namin 'yung kanilang pangalan sa mga barangay halls para makita noong mga mamamayan kung sino talaga 'yung mga nakatanggap.”

Año said the DILG would continue to run after local officials who are involved in irregularities in handing the emergency cash subsidy to qualified beneficiaries.

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He said the government is already preparing for the distribution of the second tranche of the assistance, noting that the distribution of the first tranche is already 99% finished.

He reiterated that over four million beneficiaries for the second tranche were already validated by the agency.

"Sila po 'yung bibigyan ng priority at nakahanda naman na po sa second tranche... tutulong 'yung Armed Forces at saka Philippine National Police sa pagdidistribute," Año said.

President Duterte has approved the recommendation of the government’s COVID-19 task force to add five million low-income families as beneficiaries of the emergency subsidy program.

The national government said the distribution of the second tranche would be easier and faster as ATM debit cards as well as GCash and PayMaya will be used in handing out the money to the beneficiaries.—AOL, GMA News