Jaro village chief is latest SAP mess respondent

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

A barangay chairman in Jaro, Iloilo is the latest elected local official to be sued for alleged anomalies in the distribution of the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 6 (CIDG-6) confirmed the filing of a criminal case against Barangay Captain Joseph Poral of Tacas, Jaro.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Gervacio Balmaceda, CIDG-6 regional director, said they filed criminal complaints for violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and RA 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act) against Poral on Tuesday before the Iloilo City Prosecutors Office.

A lady complainant reported to CIDG-Iloilo City field unit that she was required by barangay officials to fill out the social amelioration card (SAC) form, which would be submitted for validation to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The complainant thought that she would qualify for the SAP but her name was not included in the list of beneficiaries.

She immediately went to the barangay to verify why she was not included in the list of beneficiaries.  She was allegedly told that the DSWD has cancelled her SAC form.

But CIDG investigation showed that her SAC form was not cancelled.

Instead, it was Poral who allegedly instructed the barangay secretary and barangay treasurer to cancel for SAC form.

“We found out that he did it on his own discretion,” Balmaceda said. “Apparently, justifiable naman na makatanggap ang complainant.”

 

Given the circumstances, he said the CIDG cannot do otherwise but to sue Poral.

Meanwhile, Balmaceda said a separate administrative complaint will be against Poral before the Office of the Ombudsman.

He was charged for violation of RA 6713 (Code of Ethical Standard of Public Official).

Balmaceda urged barangay officials to properly screen qualified beneficiaries.

 

“Personal interests should have no room while we are facing this COVID pandemic,” he said.

 

He added that CIDG-6 will continue to investigate irregularities in the SAP distribution, through the guidance of CIDG director Police Major General Joel Napoleon Coronel.

For further information and inquiry, Balmaceda urged the public to contact CIDG-6 hotline at (033) 3262299, mobile number 0961-1443281, or email at rcidu6@yahoo.com.