Raps filed vs purok leader over SAP ‘anomaly’

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – An appointed purok (sub-village) chairman of Barangay Banago here is facing criminal cases for alleged irregularities in the distribution of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) funds amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod filed charges for violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft Corrupt Practices Act), and RA 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act) before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday against Ernesto Gonzaga of Purok Tinagong Paraiso.

Police Chief Master Sergeant Ramiro Gocotano, CIDG-Bacolod head, said they received a complaint from a resident in the village accusing Gonzaga of allegedly deducting P4,000 from his P6,000 SAP allowance on April 29, 2020.

SAP was given by the national government to identified qualified beneficiaries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gocotano said that based on the allegation of the complainant, Gonzaga deducted P4,000 for the expenses of frontliners in the village.

The complainant alleged that he did not receive any supporting document or acknowledgment receipt as proof for the deduction.

During the filing of the charges, the complainant was accompanied by a witness who also claimed that Gonzaga also tried to deduct P4,000 from his SAP grant. But the witness refused.

The CIDG-Bacolod has already filed several charges against erring barangay officials and employees here, concerning the SAP distribution.