‘SAP MESS’: Four charged in NegOcc, four others probed in Capiz

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

“In this time of pandemic, corruption has no place in Western Visayas.”

This was the statement of Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, as he revealed that they have already criminally charged four persons for alleged irregularities in the distribution of the government’s emergency subsidy program (ESP).

Charged were the Punong Barangay of Barangay 8 in Isabela, Negros Occidental; the Municipal Social Welfare Development Officers (MSWDO) of Isabela, Negros Occidental; and their two accomplices.

The village officials was charged for violation of Article 171, Paragraph 4 of the Revised Penal Code (Falsification of Public Officer, Employee or Notary or Ecclesiastic Minister) and Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).

The MSWDO-Isabela was also charged for violation of Article 171, Paragraph 4 of the RPC.

The two accomplices, who are both residing in Bacolod City, face a charge for violation of Article 172, paragraph 1 of the RPC (Falsification by Private Individual and used of Falsified Documents).

Western Visayas police investigators have initiated criminal charges over the alleged irregularities in the distribution of the Special Amelioration Program (SAP).

Aside from filing cases against four persons, PRO-6 also processed four complaints that were brought to the Joint Task Force CV-Shields.

The alleged anomalies are also relative to the SAP distribution in Capiz province.

“The probe team is now validating the reported irregularities and is obtaining credible witnesses to file the charges,” Police Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Gorero, chief of the Regional Plans Division and concurrent officer-in-charge of the PRO-6 Public Information Office (PIO).

Gorero said they expect to receive more complaints in the coming days.

As of 5:00 p.m. of May 13, 2020, PRO-6 SAP Hotlines (0999-8654-625) received 87 complaints sent through short message service (SMS) or text message.

“These messages were forwarded to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 6 (CIDG-6) probe team for further validation and subsequent conduct of pertinent investigations when evidence warrant,” Gorero said.

PRO-6 appealed to the public to report to the nearest police stations or to the text SAP Hotlines any anomalies and irregularities in the SAP distribution.

Last Tuesday, the CIDG-Iloilo field unit said it is currently investigating a lone complaint in the province.

The probe has been going on in Maasin, Iloilo where several SAP beneficiaries were allegedly made to “donate” a portion of their P6,000 grant.

A photo of what appeared to be a waiver had also made rounds on Facebook that showed that the beneficiary will voluntarily give P1,000 to his or her “kasimaryo” who was not included in the SAP list.

Police Lieutenant Emmanuel Tingson, CIDG-Iloilo chief, said most of the complaints they received were also through text messages, 28 complaints as of Tuesday, except for a written complaint from Cabatuan town.

Most of the complaints apparently accused barangay officials of listing ineligible beneficiaries, which might be in the jurisdiction of the DSWD.