CIDG-6 welcomes plaints vs local execs in SAP mess

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – Region 6 (CIDG-6) urged the public to formalize their complaints against local executives who are allegedly involved in corruption activities relative to the distribution of the government’s emergency subsidy program (ESP).

Lieutenant Colonel Jun Balmaceda, CIDG-6 regional director, said a formal complaint would hasten the conduct of the investigation.

But if there is no complaint, Balmaceda said their office could still initiate investigations on local government executives, including elected village officials, who might be embroiled in the alleged anomalous distribution of the Special Amelioration Program (SAP).

The SAP is the national government’s financial aid to families affected by the coronavirus disease 2019.

So far, no complaint has been forwarded to Balmaceda’s office.

“Although, I heard there’s one complaint in Iloilo province,” he said but he did not elaborate.

Balmaceda said they already deployed dedicated teams of investigators to CIDG provincial and city police offices.

As earlier announced by the PNP, these probes will gather evidence to establish strong cases against local executives for alleged graft and corruption in the SAP distribution.

Just this week, PNP chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa, upon instructions of Interior and Local Government 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 the investigation of these cases to ensure the successful prosecution of the guilty party.

In his recent public statement, President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned a Barangay Chairman in Bulacan who allegedly short-changed some SAP beneficiaries in his constituency.

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.