By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Iloilo field unit has not received any complaint against a local executive for alleged anomalies in the distribution of the government’s emergency subsidy program (ESP).
Police Lieutenant Emmanuel Tingson, CIDG-Iloilo chief, said they have just created a team that will probe the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), which was intended to ease the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier, PNP chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa said one official from Iloilo was accused of corruption in the SAP distribution.
“And then another one I think is in Region 6 na meron naman sinasabi na yung parang niece or nephew ng barangay captain who is not actually poorest of the poor are included on the list but ito for a start-up ito yung mga inimbestigahan,” Gamboa was quoted to have said.
Tingson said if an official from Iloilo is being investigated, it might be with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) or with the higher headquarters.
“But we welcome the public’s complaint because it would help us in our investigation,” he said.
In other parts of the region, Police Lieutenant Colonel Gervacio Balmaceda, CIDG-6 regional director, earlier said that they have not received formal complaints yet.
While a formal complaint would hasten the conduct of the investigation, he said they can still start the probe, with or without the official complaint.
Balmaceda said they already fielded teams of investigators in different CIDG provincial and city police offices following the order of the PNP national headquarters.
These probers will gather evidence to establish a strong case against local executives for alleged graft and corruption in the SAP distribution.
Gamboa, upon instructions of DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, directed the CIDG to conduct case build-up operations against erring local executives.
The case build-up will be done in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the DILG.
The Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, under the supervision of the Administrative Support Task Force, will closely monitor the progress of investigation of these cases to ensure successful prosecution of the guilty party.
The CIDG will closely examine disbursement records, receipts, and other paper trail evidence, as well as sworn statements of fund recipients to uncover alleged irregularities.
In his recent public statement, President Rodrigo Duterte called out a barangay chairman in Bulacan who allegedly short-changed some SAP beneficiaries.
