A CASH reward of P30,000 from President Rodrigo Duterte will be given to anyone who can give validated information on corrupt local government officials who pocket the cash assistance intended for the beneficiaries of the social amelioration program (SAP).

The reward was announced by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque after President Rodrigo Duterte’s televised meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Monday night, May 4.

“Inatasan po ako ng ating Pangulo na i-anunsyo, na sa kagustuhan po ng rating Pangulo na matigil ‘yung pangungurakot, pagdating po sa SAP (Social Amelioration Program) at iba pang ayuda ng gobyerno...siya po ay magbibigay ng pabuya na P30,000 sa lahat po ng magrereport ng mga local officials na kinukurakot ang mga ayuda para po sa mahihirap,” Roque said.

“Tumawag lang po kayo sa 8888, syempre po kung gusto ninyo ng ayuda, mag-iiwan kayo ng pangalan at telephone number, at pag napatunayan po ‘yung inyong reklamo sa korapsyon laban sa mga opisyales...P30,000 po ang pabuya na ibibigay ng Presidente sa inyo,” Roque said.

This is in line with the President’s zero tolerance policy against corrupt government officials.

In his speech, Duterte lambasted a barangay kagawad (village councilor) in Hagonoy, Bulacan who was caught on video telling beneficiaries that they would only receive half of the SAP cash grant due them because the rest would go to the mayor for distribution to non-SAP beneficiaries.

Danilo Flores, a village councilor of Barangay San Agustin, was arrested by the police. The mayor had denied the claim of Flores.

Duterte on Monday night ordered local chief executives to look into the background of the government employees or officials tasked to distribute the cash grant.

“Mayors, kindly look into the people that you have commissioned to do the distribution doon sa pera,” Duterte said.

“Mahirap na nga, ikaw may trabaho ka na, kagawad ka--kukunin mo pa ‘yung pera ng mahihirap,” he added.

He also told local governments to turn over the cash grant to the women, not the men who might just use the money for drinking and gambling.

Under the SAP, poverty-stricken Filipinos are given financial aid ranging from P5,000 to P 8,000 amid the enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. (SunStar Philippines)