Twenty-three village officials from undisclosed areas are facing criminal charges for allegedly falsifying documents in connection with the disbursal of cash aids to their constituents, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said today.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the Philippine National Police has already filed 12 criminal cases against the said unnamed officials, including violation of the Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and violation of the RA 11469 or the Bayanihan (“Camaraderie”) to Heal As One Act.
Aside from the falsification of records, the officials allegedly took an unspecified amount of the cash aid and split the money amongst themselves. The charged officials include village chiefs, councilors, treasurers, secretaries, and even social workers.
Just last week, the DILG ordered 44 mayors to explain why it’s taking them so long to release the cash aids, called the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), to their constituents. Año said the village officials will also be given the opportunity to explain, although they have already sued the officers in court.
Read: 44 mayors asked to explain slow cash aid handouts, says Interior Department
Año added that the charges filed should serve as a warning, especially now that a second tranche of the emergency COVID-19 cash relief is expected to be released later this month.
“The distribution of the 2nd tranche of SAP is drawing near, which is why we cannot allow [these officials] to cheat the system again. The police are zeroing in on these cases to make sure that SAP beneficiaries will not be deprived of their benefits,” Año added in Filipino.
Under the Bayanihan Act, the government is obligated to provide cash aids of up to PHP8,000 (US$157) for 18 million low-income families.
The cash aid disbursal has been met with criticism, and only 14.8 million of the targeted 18 million low-income families have reportedly received their SAP as of May 9. However, DILG Spokesman Jonathan Malaya last week said only 2% of families nationwide have yet to receive their SAP, blaming officials for delays in distribution.
“[N]ot more than 2% of our countrymen were unable to receive the Social Amelioration Program. This is saddening because a vast majority of our people have already received it, but there are still a few [who haven’t received SAP] because of their slow LGUs [local government units].”
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced late last month that cash aid for poor families will be stopped once residents in an area are no longer under the enhanced community quarantine.
Reader Interactions