By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two elected barangay officials and a staff in Oton, Iloilo are facing graft charges over their alleged participation in the anomalous distribution of the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 6 (CIDG) filed the charges against Barangay Captain Pedro Panique, Barangay Kagawad Riza Cruz, and barangay staff Joan Nombreda, all of Alegre village, Oton.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Gervacio Balmaceda Jr., CIDG-6 regional director, said the trio were charged for violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act) and RA 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act) docketed as NPS Docket No. VI-11-INV-20G-00504 and handled by Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Ross Camanay.
The cases were filed July 20, 2020.
Balmaceda said a complainant reported to the CIDG-Iloilo provincial field unit alleging that barangay officials of Alegre village were involved in anomalous SAP distribution.
During the investigation, five persons attested that during the distribution of SAP cash assistance on April 29-30, 2020, “the respondents took advantage of their position as elected barangay officials by manipulating the final list of SAP beneficiaries that resulted in the inclusion of individuals who were not qualified as recipients contrary to the guidelines issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.”
On top of the criminal complaint, the three will also be facing an administrative case for violation RA 6713 (Code of Ethical Standard of Public Official) before the Office of the Ombudsman upon resumption of its services.
As of July 3, the CIDG-6 already handled 30 cases all over the region, all of which were already filed with the prosecutor. These cases involved 147 suspects and 127 complainants.
Bacolod City has the most number of cases at 11; Iloilo province, 6; Negros Occidental, 5; Iloilo City, 3; Capiz and Antique, 2 each; and Aklan, 1.
