Mansilingan village chief, 9 others face raps for SAP anomaly

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod filed criminal charges against a barangay chairman and nine appointed officials and employees of Barangay Mansilingan here for alleged anomalies in the distribution of the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

Charged for violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019 (Anti-Graft Corrupt Practices Act), RA 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act), and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) were Barangay Chairman Rodolfo Pico Jr., a barangay secretary, two purok presidents, and six purok kagawads.

Chief Master Sergeant Ramiro Gocotano, CIDG-Bacolod head, said that they assisted four complainants in the filing of charges before the City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.

Gocotano said that four residents of the village reported to the CIDG that the respondents allegedly prioritized their close and political affiliates, relatives, and family members in the SAP distribution.

The complainants also alleged that the SAP allowance was given to some houses with double recipients and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), instead of distributing the cash aid to the qualified beneficiaries affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Based on the complaint, Pico, as the village chief, allegedly signed and approved the names of the recipients to receive the SAP allowance prepared by the appointed barangay officials and barangay employees submitted to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the respondents allegedly refused to accept the appeal of the complainants to include them in the SAP distribution, as stated in the complaint.

The CIDG said it found out that the respondents did not properly screen the qualified beneficiaries but instead, prioritized those who are beneficial to their personal interest that resulted in most qualified beneficiaries being left out.

Pico and the other respondents have yet to issue a statement regarding the accusations against them.