Local News

Davao officials face charges for SAP irregularities

Juliet C. Revita

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Davao said several government officials in Davao Region are currently facing charges for alleged anomalies in the distribution of aid under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

In a virtual presser on Wednesday, June 16, DILG-Davao Director Alex Roldan said some officials from different provinces in the region, including Davao City, were charged over irregularities in the payout of emergency cash subsidy during the first tranche.

He, however, did not disclose yet the cities, municipalities, and barangays in Davao Region that were involved in the alleged anomalies.

Roldan said that nationwide, there are a total of 397 barangay and local government officials who are facing criminal charges for the anomalies before the various Prosecutor's Office of the Department of Justice (DOJ) while around 700 are under investigation.

He added that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) personnel are intensifying case build-up against concerned officials should there be evidence to back a complaint against them.

In May, the DILG bared that four mayors in Davao Region will be given show-cause orders over alleged "poor performance" in the distribution of the emergency cash subsidy under the SAP in their localities.

"Sa Davao Region ongoing pa, naa nay na-filan ug kaso gi-hearing na sa korte. Naa pod sa level sa fiscal, naa pod sa level sa CIDG aron sa pag complete sa build up sa ebidensya (In Davao Region, we have already filed cases, some are now being heard while some are now in the fiscal level. There are also under investigation in the CIDG for the case build up)," Roldan said.

Roldan said complaints against officials usually pass them first for the first evaluation. Their legal office assesses if the complaints can be settled by the Department of Social Welfare and Development or it will be forwarded to the DOJ depending on the weight of the complaint.

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