Village chief, 3 others face raps for SAP anomalies

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A village chief and three other public officials of Barangay Felisa here are facing criminal charges before the City Prosecutor’s Office on Friday for alleged irregularities in the distribution of the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod filed a criminal complaint for violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and violation of RA 11469 (Bayanihan To Heal As One Act) against Barangay Captain Ramon Jardin, Barangay Secretary Stephen Jalandoon, Purok President Corazon Latoza, and Barangay Liason Officer Rosejean Estador.

According to CIDG-Bacolod head Ramiro Gocotano, the charges stemmed from the complaints of seven residents at the village accusing the respondents of conspiracy for allegedly collecting P4,000 from their P6,000 SAP allowances on April 22.

Gocotano said that the complainants lodged their complaint before the CIDG on May 7.

The same investigation was conducted by other provincial and city CIDG field units for the filing of appropriate charges against erring local officials.

Meanwhile, Jardin denied the accusations against him in an interwiew with RAM Radio.

He said that he asked the complainants to attend a special session of the barangay council to discuss their complaints regarding the SAP distribution but they did not show up, until he learned that they already reported it to the law enforcers.

He said that he was surprised by the complaint because he had emphasized to the barangay officials and workers that the P6,000 cash aid of the national government for the identified poorest of the poor households affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) should be given to qualified beneficiaries.

In the same radio interview, Jalandoon also denied the accusations against him, claiming that he was at the barangay on April 22 to process other requirements for the release of SAP allowances.

He also denied that he told the purok president to collect P4,000 from the SAP beneficiaries.

“I don’t know kung may personal sila na kainit sa akon or kung politically-motivated ini, kay gin patawag man na sila, pero wala sila nag tubang sa tawo nga gina reklamo nila. Kaintsindi man sila na bulig na ka gobyerno sila. Kung ano man ang gingamitan nila sang kwarta nila, ila na na responsibilidad. Ang barangay wala na gapabaya sa mga tawo,” he said.

He said that the complainants should have settled their complaints against them since they are at the barangay hall every day.

“Wala kami may gin obra na malain. Ang amon lang na makabulig kami sa panahon sang crisis,” he added.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Gervacio Balmaceda encouraged other beneficiaries to report any SAP irregularities in their localities to the nearest police station or CIDG field units offices in Western Visayas.