Felisa village chief, 3 others face new charges for SAP anomalies

A resident of Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City files a criminal complaint against their village chief and three others for alleged anomalies in the SAP distribution before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of CIDG-Bacolod)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod filed yesterday additional criminal complaints against a village chief and three others here for alleged irregularities on the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

Police Chief Master Sergeant Ramiro Gocotano, head of CIDG-Bacolod, told Daily Guardian that the charges were filed before the City Prosecutor’s Office against Barangay Felisa Chairman Ramon  Jardin, Barangay Secretary Stephen Jalandoon, Purok President Corazon Latoza, and Barangay Liason Officer Rosejean Estador.

They are accused of violating Republic Act (RA) 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and violation of RA 11469 or the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act.

Gocotano said that another complainant surfaced and reported to the CIDG last Monday the alleged anomaly committed by the respondents in the SAP distribution.

SAP is given to the poorest of the poor affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Gocotano said that the female complainant already received the P6,000 cash aid on April 22, 2020. However, the complainant alleged in her complaint that she was told that P4,000 will be deducted from her cash aid which will be distributed to other residents in the village who were not qualified for the assistance.
The CIDG-Bacolod earlier filed the same complaint against the same respondents.

Jardin and Jalandoon already denied the allegations in previous media interviews.