By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) will conduct extensive investigations on government officials committing anomalies and irregularities in the distribution of the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, Nocppo director, has ordered all police chiefs in the province to deploy their intelligence officers and investigators on the field to validate reports.
“This will encourage increased vigilance among the people in the barangays,” he said, in a press statement.
Just recently, a village chief in Isabela town and its Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) Officer were charged for graft and corruption for alleged irregularities in the distribution of cash assistance from the government under the SAP.
SAP grants are given to a qualified member of the family affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Baleros directed all police chiefs to establish Action Centers with dedicated hotline numbers which will receive and act on any reports.
The Action Centers will be the office dedicated to validating the complaints, he said.
The Provincial Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit was also tasked to assist the stations.
Baleros appeals to the Negrenses to report to the nearest police station through their posted hotline numbers any information on anomalies that they know of.
He assured the public that their identities will be protected.
