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Duterte offers P30,000 reward for info on execs stealing COVID-19 aid


President Rodrigo Duterte has offered a P30,000 reward for every person who could  give information on corrupt officials committing irregularities in the government's distribution of assistance in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis.

The president named barangay councilor Danilo Flores of Agustin in Hagonoy, Bulacan as one of the allegedly corrupt local officials.

“‘Yung mga mayors naman, kindly look into the people that you have commissioned to do the distribution sa pera. Kagaya nitong [Flores]. P***** i** nagkuha ka pa ng television,” Duterte said.

“Mahirap na nga (beneficiaries), ikaw may trabaho ka na, kagawad ka, p***** i**, kukunin mo pa ‘yung pera ng mahirap,” he added.

Duterte's spokesman, Harry Roque, said the government will have "zero tolerance" on corruption that take away money supposedly for the poor.

“Sa kagustuhan ng ating pangulo na matigil ang pangungurakot sa SAP (Social Amelioration Program) at iba pang ayuda ng pamahalaan, na ginawa ni kagawad Danilo Flores ng Hagonoy Bulacan, siya po ay magbibigay pabuya ng P30,000 sa lahat ng magrereport ng local officials na kumakana o kinukurakot ang mga ayuda para sa mahihirap,” Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Roque said those who will report corrupt practices of public officials involving SAP funds may call at 8888 and leave relevant information.

 

Internal agreement

According to reports last week, Flores of Barangay San Agustin allegedly took up to P3,500 from the P6,500 cash aid distributed to each beneficiary in the barangay.

The beneficiaries said they were not told why they did not get the full amount of the assistance.

Flores said he had an "internal agreement" with the recipients that the amount slashed from their amelioration would be given to residents who did not get aid.

The barangay official said he was ready to face investigation over the matter.

Gambling

Duterte also slammed Filipinos who engage in gambling, drinking, and cockfighting using the financial assistance they received from the government.

He earlier told people engaging in these activities that no more aid will be given to them.

“Kung ako ang mayor maabutan mo… Drinking and gambling sa tulong ng tao,” Duterte said. “Karamihan nitong mga gagong to, they don’t really care about the family.”

The chief executive also ordered local authorities to aid in contact tracing efforts for COVID-19 cases, saying that the national government will “crumble” without their help.

The National Task Force Against COVID-19 earlier instructed local governments to implement the “test, trace, treat” strategy up to the barangay level. -NB/LDF, GMA News

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